Electrical Warning can of worms

[2 fish]

The post I put out yesterday was to let all know what I am experiencing,and perhaps get some positive feedback. Well it seems all it has done is open a can of worms and an argument who has the most electrical knowledge,when I opened SWF.com this morning and saw so many replies I thought their was going to be some good news for me, but I have been told nothing,I still don't know if I'm going to lose everything and can only hope I don't.What you call a GFCI we call in OZ an RCD which I mentioned I ran all my electricals through. I hope you 2 electrical geniuses can come to some agreement and maybe let me know something positive.

 

[b.b.bigbrother]

I do'nt think it will hurt anything i had same problem before i did'nt worry ,relax. fish probably do'nt feel as much if any as you did they're really not grounded probably only one wire bare you need both to complete circuit you can hold hot wire in your hand, if you're not grounded "not recomended" i do'nt think it'll hurt anything that's what theyre discussing if you put grounding probe on tank and that happens it's much worse. But they should have said you should be alright,do you have metal stand if so,could be grounded. I guess thats why we should have wood or should put rubber gasket before tank i thought about buying metal to put large sump underneeth because my wood one does'nt have much room i'm going to have to reinforce and cut to fit good size sump.

 

[bammbamm74]

Well, I agree. I gave some advise on wiring, but I deleted it. I do not know the level of wiring experience people have and I shouldn't have put it out there. Anyway, to make a quick install of the GFCI, check out these.
<a href="http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=16228-000000171-2816" target="_blank">http://www.lowes.com/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=16228-000000171-2816</A> They are easy to install and ANYONE CAN DO IT because they are an extension cord with the GFCI on it. Expensive, but they can save your house.

 

[broomer5]

I look at this issue two ways.
What's best for the tank creatures and what is best for me the tank's caretaker.
Using or not using a grounding probe is debatable as we've seen so many times before.
Does is offer the living tank creatures a better environment or not. I don't know for sure.
Having an electrical potential exist in the glass insulated tank, to me in my opinion is not a healthy environment for the living animals.
Having a grounding probe installed and wired to ground is a way to allow any electrical potential to bleed off to ground.
Yes it allows a flow - yes it allows current within the insulated saltwater tank.
Having a Ground Fault Circuit Interupter allows for "defective" electrical pumps, heaters and powerheads to "trip" the circuit - and quickly tells me there is an electrical problem that needs immediate attention.
Turning off ALL electrical equipment prior to reaching my hand into the tank, AND having the grounding probe seems reasonable to protect ME from getting shocked.
Any electrical potential is allowed to go to ground, and if the equipment is shut off at the source - then I feel safe to reach into the tank.
Just my opinion - and I hope your corals open up 2 FISH.

 

[bammbamm74]

Yep, you should do some research and come to your own conclusion on grounding probes. I just brought up the GFCI for protection against short circuits. I spilled some water on my surge protector and it shocked me!! The GFCI would've kicked.

 

[teatime]

I am an electrican and believe me I have my systems hooked up to power strip cord which I turn off before I put my hand in..

 

[marc42fe]

good info in this one. ground rods aside. (whatever) Look for another path to ground like salt trails from leaks, metal stand etc... remember no ground, no current if you feel a current in your tank when you stick your hand in it there is a very good posibility that the current you feel is not present when you are not in the water.(you are the ground rod, albeit a resistive one but you are it) I think you are probably having a different problem. anyway you need a multimeter if you want to pursue this electrical thingy further. I would shelve the powerhead and get a new one. then start asking on the disease forum.
sorry if your post got all bent up and I hope you haven't lost anything due to our lack of actual help.
Marc.
p.s. hows aussieland a few of my skilift operators live there.