Stray voltage question.

[coryaquarium101]

How much stray voltage is ok if any? Also wity my volt meter do I put it on the 200 Mark with the V~ ?

 

[Shane Hoffman]

Most will tell you you want 0 stray voltage. This is the best case scenario. That being said I currently have about 9 volts and my tank is very healthy and thriving. I have a mix of SPS, LPS, Softies, and anemones. I have encountered many other tanks with a similar voltage that are doing well. My problem is that i have anywhere from .3 to .8volts coming from multiple powerheads, heaters, and pumps. I refuse to replace them all. If I had one piece of equipment with 9 volts coming from it I would replace it in a heartbeat. Set your voltmeter to the 0 to 200 AC voltage range.

 

[coryaquarium101]

well i have about 12 to 15 volts. I have unplugged every piece and when I start plugging them in each has like 1 or 2 volts it seems. I hav 4 powerheads, mag7, mag5, heater, lights.

 

[coryaquarium101]

is 13 or 15 volts ok?

 

[Peter Eichler]

Stray voltage is in all tanks and not much of a concern. Hust go through and make sure any one piece of equipment isn't contributing a lot more than others. If you find one examine cords for nicks/cuts and anything else that doesnlt seem quite right.

 

[sdc19982002]

I've had about 17 volts for the past year or so and have no problems in the tank.

 

[Drewbaby]

I have enough stray current in my tank to shock me occasionally and my tank is doing amazing. I keep mostly lps and softies with some chalices and my growth is incredible. I read that stray electricity can increase growth without hindering color and have seen studies on it where a frag is attached to a live wire carrying live current through it. On two equal sized frags placed in the same tank on the same frag rack the one recieving the current produced three times the growth compared to the other frag of the same coral. The study was done with a tri color acro and the effects gradually diminished over time, but the growth was still more so than the frag without current

 

[Metal Man 1221]

well like others have stated stray voltage isnt totally bad, none would be best for a tank but things will survive, however, if you are keeping certian fish such as powder blue tangs or blue hippo tangs they are more suseptible to HLLE disease, currently my blue tang has it but is in very good health other wise, a simple grounding probe will help eliminate much of the stray voltage if you are worried about it

 

[coryaquarium101]

Metal Man: I see you are from Fargo, I grew up south of Jamestown. How are the fish stores doing in Fargo? I know that one had a pretty big display tank that they were just setting up a few years ago,can't remember the name though.