Fish are fine, water is perfect, corals are wilting. Can you guess the problem?

[ctgretzky9]

i came back from hd and realized I didnt push the submit button, so here is my post which should actually be about 45 min later than the one right before this lol....
Got my volt meter, and will check it when I get home. I have noticed every once ina while my fish acting a bit crazy, and polyps closing up for no reason...since my water param seem almost perfect, I am thinking this may be a cause.
Thank you!

 

[thomas712]

Let us know if you need any help with the voltage meter, and let us know what you find out. Take paper and pencil with you to jot everything down.
Thomas

 

[ctgretzky9]

Ok Thomas, since I am electrically-challenged, here is what I got, maybe you can help me for tonight...
I purchased a Commercial Electric (name brand) digital multimeter model #hdm350. Pic is attached I hope...
What the hell goes where? lmao...so sorry!

 

[thomas712]

Never used one like that so I'm not much help there, however you will be ashamed when I suggest that you read the manual

 

[ctgretzky9]

lmao....read the manual? huh? I am a guy...I dont read manuals or ask for directions. I'll just screw with it until I see something happening...lol...just kidding. Although the directions are about 15 pages long!
I guess I should have saved some $ and just got a frikin simple one, but they all had like 3" cords, this one came with cords about 3' long so i can reach the water ( I have a 60 hex, so it's really tall).
Thanks anyway, the suggestion alone to check this has helped tremendously.

 

[57chev]

ctgretzky9, I had reef up for 8yrs before I grounded out my tank, I'd heard of it in the past but didnt know it was that big of a deal cuz I didnt really have any problems till I added new tangs to the tank and they started acting funny. One thing about the stray voltage thing is that even with no faulty equipment you'll still have it. Everything gives of some voltage. On a friends reef we ofcourse put one ground probe in the tank or sump and the other on the ground post of a out-let and started unplugging and plugging in all the goodies it takes to run a reef and got voltage off of everything. One weird thing was we even got some voltage in the water from the pedent hanging MH lights that arent attached to the tank at all, just hanging over it. You can make your own ground rod by using a titainium bycle spoke attached to a copper wire and then fastened to your ground. Make sure its hooked to the ground and not the neutral there is a difference the neutral goes clear back to the power pole and at times can carry a voltage of its own. When I put my ground rod in I was "shocked" at the emmediate difference it made in everything.

 

[ctgretzky9]

hey 57...love the pun about being "shocked"..lol
I will end up putting a grounding probe in anyway at this point, being that I have now read posts on this and 3 other boards regarding this subject.
I almost wish I didnt spend the 30 bucks on the voltmeter, but in any event, I'd still like to find out if any of my equipment is actually lending to any stray voltage.
Plus I guess I could have some fun with the voltagemeter testing batteries and all my outlets, maybe bringing it to bars to test any ladies to see how electric they are etc...
Thanks all, as always I got great answers and comments.

 

[ctgretzky9]

ok, again, sorry for the q....
When you guys say ground, is that normally the screw that would hold the plate (cover for the plug) into the wall. You know, the screw in the middle of the plate.
Or is it different on a gfci. When my electrician came to finish my downstairs, I had him install the gfci for the aquarium so I could feel better about surges etc.
I mean, the gfci, like all my other plugs, is a 3-prong outlet. Is the 3rd hole there the ground?
Thanks again!

 

[jjlittle]

I would guess that you may have a tempature problem MH lighting puts alot of heat off how is the temp.& the tank is a new set up which needs to cycle.

 

[cveverly]

Originally posted by ctgretzky9
ok, again, sorry for the q....
When you guys say ground, is that normally the screw that would hold the plate (cover for the plug) into the wall. You know, the screw in the middle of the plate.
I mean, the gfci, like all my other plugs, is a 3-prong outlet. Is the 3rd hole there the ground?
Thanks again!

I would use the third hole in the outlet for your ground. It is one of the three that looks kinda round. The cover screw in the center of the outlet may not be grounded. I have seen plastic screws in there and you will not get a good ground.

 

[cveverly]

Originally posted by ctgretzky9
I purchased a Commercial Electric (name brand) digital multimeter model #hdm350. Pic is attached I hope...
What the hell goes where? lmao...so sorry!
You hook up your probes (wires) to the COM and V~ plugs on your meter. Then put the selector on the V~ 200 scale. (red letters top right) Hook COM probe to ground and the V~ in your tank. Read the voltage in the display.
Disclaimer:
I am not an expert nor did I sleep in a Holiday Inn Express last night.

 

[ctgretzky9]

jjlittle...welcome to the board! And....huh?

 

[ctgretzky9]

cver...
Thank you! That is basically what I understand from reading the manual (uuugh!!!)
Thank you for your help, and I guess i use the black or com to stick into the round hold (ground) in an outlet, and the red goes into the water.
Sound right?
Thanks again!!

 

[sweetreef]

i have had my hole tank gone my dog chewed a cord to one of my pumps didnt know it and whent to put my hand in the tank and got a very nice bite..I know that stray voltage isnt good on glass tanks because it tares at the silcone on them

 

[cveverly]

Originally posted by ctgretzky9
i use the black or com to stick into the round hold (ground) in an outlet, and the red goes into the water.
Sound right?
Thanks again!!
Yep that sounds right.
Not to confuse you but, this is AC (V~) so it really does not matter but it is a good habit for black to be ground.

 

[ctgretzky9]

Ok...tested my water and had 14 stray volts running through the tank!
So I went to my LFS, and they did have a ground pole.
Easy to hook up, and tested again...0 stray volts.
I'm glad I got it, but it didn't help my problem, which is my polyps look like crapola. THought stray voltage may be the issue, bu I guess it wasn't.
Thanks all for the help, Thoms and 57 and cever etc...I'm glad I got the ground probe, it will probably help with any future problems related to stray voltage...one less thing to go wrong, which in a reef tank, we all know is a good thing!