Stray Electric Current!!!

ASaleem91

ASaleem91

Member
Last night I put my hand in my tank to move a coral and I felt an electric shock. First I thought that I had a cut on my hand and maybe because it is saltwater it caused my hand to feel a "sting." But after I felt this "sting" I looked at my hand and there was no cut. I stuck my hand in the tank again and once again felt the shock. Im pretty sure the stray electric current came from my return which I have turned off now. I was just wondering how do I get rid of this electric current?

ASaleem91
 
Two things you can/should do. If you are getting shocked when you put your hand in the tank, I would try to isolate the source and replace the pump if its leaking that much current into the water. Next, install a ground probe. They are cheap (around $15-20US) and will send stray current to your home's ground buss bar.
 
Yeah, I am pretty sure that the return pump is the problem. Is grounding the only way that I can get the electric current out of the tank?

Thanks,
ASaleem91
 
Your tank should also be on a GFCI outlet. First, if your tank is not on a GFCI you need to get one and install it, then replace the pump leaking the voltage and then get a grounding probe and install it. GFCI outlets are about 12 dollars at nearly any hardware store including walmart.
I had this same problem a while back, ill see if i can find the thread.
 
I just ordered a ground probe. Does it need to be plugged in directly to an outlet or can it be plugged into a surge protector? Also how long do I need to wait after I plug it in to stick my hand in my tank. Also say that I keep the same pump, will it still put an electric current into the tank or with the probe take it out?

Thanks,
ASaleem91
 
If you kept the same pump and plugged in a ground probe you would have the same problem only it would be masked by the probe possibly. if you had a GFCI and kept the same pump and added a grounding probe it would trip the GFCI every time you plugged the probe into a ground. You really dont have a choice if the pump is the cause of the electricity, you have to replace it.
 
Doesn't a grounding probe attach to the center screw of the outlet? I'm just curious, and I would hate to see someone mistakenly put it into an outlet by mistake.
 
there are some types that might be able to be attached to various grounds but most have a three prong plug like any grounded device but the hot plugs are plastic and the thrid plug is the ground. It grounds it to your electrical systems ground, from what i read your not supposed to ground things in your tank to water pipes and the like.
 
FWIW the one i bought does not have a plugin style end on it, it was bare copper wire. I stripped it back a little further and wired it into a grounded style plugin myself.
 
;) Just didn't want anyone to curl their hair by mistake!:lol: The one that I have seen has an eyelet at the other end to be grounded to the center screw that holds the outlet plate on, was my understanding. But I think I would like the kind that you have better!
 
If you use a ground probe everything associated with the tank has to be GFCI proteced. Once the ground probe is installed in the tank there is a current path from the bad pump or whatever is leaking current, to ground.

This is a worse problem for the tanks inhabitants then the stray voltage although the water will be at ground potential so you will not get shocked.

If you use a ground probe and a GFCI the GFCI will be able to instantly see the leak and shut off the power.
This is a great troubleshooting tool you will no that whatever is plugged into that GFCI has a leak.
 
<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=12331538#post12331538 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by bill-fit

This is a worse problem for the tanks inhabitants then the stray voltage although the water will be at ground potential so you will not get shocked.
Click to expand...

So say I stick my hand in the tank with the ground probe plugged into the outlet and the return pump on. If I was to stick my hand in the tank would I get shocked or not? Do I need to ditch the return pump?

Thanks,
ASaleem91
 
Could I use the grounding probe on a regular outlet or does it have to be a GFCI outlet? What would happen if I plugged it into a regular outlet instead of a GFCI outlet? Would it work the same?

Thanks,
Ali
 
ASaleem91 It makes no difference if you plug the ground probe into a GFCI or a regular grounded plug either way your just hooking the ground probe into your home grounding system.

If you plug the ground probe into a regular outlet and your pump is leaking current you shoudn't get shocked if you stick your hand in tank. Because the ground probe will be providing a path for the current to get out of the water back to ground.

But here's the problem with that, it's common that the leak from the pump won't be enough to trip the circuit breaker so you will have a constant current through the salt water. Thats bad you don't want that.

This is where the GFCI outlet does it's job a GFCI electronicaly monitors the current going in and out, if there is a current leak in the tank somewhere it shuts off the power.

I hope this answers your questions I'll watch this tread:D
 
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