Super Strange Voltage Question

[boojumsnark25]

Hi guys,
well I have been getting the slightest of slight shocks for a long time in my sump. Decided to fix it today, so I bought two ground probes. Put one in the sump, and one in the tank, just to be sure. Now, when I stick my finger in the sump, I still get a very slight shock (so slight that I can only feel it in my finger that has a cut). I put the same finger in the tank and I don't feel a thing, so it's not just the burn from the salt. I got the voltage meter, and I had .365 volts in my sump, and 0.001 in my tank. Now, here's the weird part. I unplugged every single last thing associated with my tank, and I STILL GET A SHOCK

I know it's not a big shock, but it's annoying. It's painful enough that I want to fix it.

Has anyone ever heard of this? There's no aquarium devices that store voltage, are there?

 

[boojumsnark25]

forgot to add, when I put rubber soled shoes on the shock goes away. so it's definitely electrical

 

[EdSnyder]

There has got to be an electric eel hiding in your sump.

 

[sonofasailor]

I had a similar problem a few months back, the slight shock thing. I did as you, and systematically unplugged all obvious power sources. What my prob turned out to be was a orp probe had a slight crack in the wire insulation where it mated to the milwaukee probe itself. Once I raised this portion of the probe from the water while leaving the sensor wet the shock went away.

 

[Mike31154]

Salt water is a mild 'electrolyte', so even with no power applied, there is still the potential for a slight voltage to develop, especially if there are any metallic probes or objects in the water. Google 'salt water battery' and read all about it. Not sure this is the cause, but something to consider.

 

[H20ENG]

Quit cutting your finger and sticking it in the sump!

You unplugged the ground plug too? and all testing equipment as mentioned above (ORP, pH probe, etc).

This system is not on a GFCI outlet?

 

[biger]

Hey Booj, check out this article.
Good info that might make u think twice about grounding probes.

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/GroundingProbes.html

 

[Mike31154]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=15642342#post15642342 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by biger
Hey Booj, check out this article.
Good info that might make u think twice about grounding probes.

http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/GroundingProbes.html

That's very good information from a presumably knowledgeable source. After backtracking and following a few additional links, I ended up with another link providing great information, a little more technical, but also some very basic understandable stuff as well. Includes info on voltage, ground probes and GFIs with regard to aquaria and salt water.

Tech Details of Stray Voltage

With the number of times these voltage issues surface, this type of info should be considered for a 'sticky' somewhere if not already present.