electrcuted tank .

[davidsmith]

my tank got big shock when the light fixture and salt content made contact there was only a snow flake eel in it at the time i had about 15 pounds of live rock now would that kill teh rock and the hitchhikers. now i just added 2 weeks ago about 50 pounds of fiji live rock i got for free. its beed in the tank for awhile he had it for about 2 months now u think hitch hikers will start showing cause i never see anything

 

[iceburger]

it is not good for the tank, however if you havent seen any bad effects from it yet, you may have caught it in time...go to your LFS and get a grounding probe...or just go to HD and get a wire and ground it and stick it in the tank....and try to find out as soon as possible what is causing this...

 

[sebae0]

just a question about the electricity in a tank, i know a elec current in a tank is not good due to the stress it causes but say a broken heater or light falling in will this kill everything or just do the same. the way i think about it is if lightning strikes water why doesnt all the fish in that area die? just thinking aloud and would like more info.

 

[dad]

Ok, I am going to answer the question first: Hitchkickers will show up as long as you have your tank (and nothing bad happens). I have had a tank for two years and still find new things all the time,
That is one of the things that is great about this hobbie!!!
Now about the electrical aspects: I will give you MY opinion and comments on this. Reminder this is MY opinion
Do not get a probe. Just make sure your tank is on a GFCI breaker or receptical. ok?
This will save you and your tank.
HTH

 

[slothy]

Originally posted by sammystingray
Dropping a light in the tank won't kill anything really........yes I know from experience, and yes, I did grab for it.............no shoes on either......had to check my pulse real quick to see if I still had one.
ill second that

 

[dad]

I am not sure if you guys agree with me or not? lol
My senerio might look something like this: If you had a tank with no GFCI protection and a g.probe; it would probly kill your fish.
If no grounding probe (and you got lucky and you were not grounded) nothing would happen.
I am just saying a no probe/GFCI protected tank is the only safe way to go.
Not wanting this to be a debate though,

 

[slothy]

dad, the tank that this happened to me wasnt on any grounding prob, the fish didnt even know what happened other than my arm hurt like hell... but the tank was sitting on wood, and the only thing that was grounded was me

 

[dad]

Thanks. I tend to answer thes type of threads due to I have been an electrician for over 20 years,
Think GFCI, lol

 

[arkman]

Good call Dad - GFCI all the way - mostly for our saftey. If the tank has a charge and you touch it - you just became the ground (ZAP!).
Dad, question for you - is ther any difference between the in wall outlet box type, or the portable exetension cord type GCFI --- other than price?

 

[zippy]

DAD, this is getting a little off topic, but what way is the best for making electrical connections? I have been using wire nuts, but is there a better way that is more permanent?

 

[thomas712]

Dad would you then agree with the cut and paste here?
Clearly electrical items submerged within your aquarium (power heads, heaters, etc.) can provide a direct interface between the prime power source (120 volts alternating (60 Hz) current (VAC) in the United States and 220 VAC, 50 Hz in most of the rest of the world) and the water, but some claim that the stray voltages can be indirectly induced by the lighting systems. This is possible because the skin depth of salt water (a conductor) at 60 Hz is not zero. “Skin depth” is the distance that electromagnetic energy can penetrate a conductor. Salt water is a conductor, but not a perfect conductor, so there is penetration by 60 Hz emissions. These induced voltages are small in magnitude. On the other hand, shorted pumps can develop large currents through the water, but typically between the “short” and some “ground” like your ground probe. This means that the inclusion of a ground probe could make things worse. If a pump were shorting within itself, the currents flowing through the water would remain local to the pump and should not be a problem. You would have to have two shorting pumps, or a pump and a ground probe, or some other current path to get electrical current to flow through your tank.
And this is why I should not use a ground probe?
Thomas

 

[dad]

arkman; The diference is some cord GFCIs are not UL listed. This means they are a cheap imitation and can not be trusted. I would stick with the wall recept or breaker.
Zippy; The best connection are done by soldering then using shrinkwrap. Some people use crimps but they are not as good as wire nuts actually. As long as the wire nuts are not close to water; you should be fine.
Thomas712; There you go,
Stray voltage is in everytank. But harmless unless it has a good path to ground.