New Electric lines for tank

[litlepig11]

Hello, wasnt sure if i should post here in the diy...or in the aquarium for off topic...its a little bit of both. We are moving to a "new" house, and were the tank is going there is no plugs. We are going to run ourselves new wireing to the area. We are going to put in 2 new "things" in the breaker box each one will run 3 outlets over in the tank area. Couple question...and remember im poor...just bought a house and i have reef tank...should we put in the type of outlets that go it most bathrooms...they have that botton, like a built in trip...or would that cause problems...what are the pros and cons of doing that type? And also our house does not have a "ground" all of the outlets are the 2 prong ones, we are replace them w/3 prong ones for convinece purpses....becasue we have the tank and all the water what is the risk if not having our house "grounded" and could/should we just "ground" the tank? All for now...im sure the answer will create many more questions for me...thanks all....

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by litlepig11
http:///forum/post/3041528
Hello, wasnt sure if i should post here in the diy...or in the aquarium for off topic...its a little bit of both. We are moving to a "new" house, and were the tank is going there is no plugs. We are going to run ourselves new wireing to the area. We are going to put in 2 new "things" in the breaker box each one will run 3 outlets over in the tank area. Couple question...and remember im poor...just bought a house and i have reef tank...should we put in the type of outlets that go it most bathrooms...they have that botton, like a built in trip...or would that cause problems...what are the pros and cons of doing that type? And also our house does not have a "ground" all of the outlets are the 2 prong ones, we are replace them w/3 prong ones for convinece purpses....becasue we have the tank and all the water what is the risk if not having our house "grounded" and could/should we just "ground" the tank? All for now...im sure the answer will create many more questions for me...thanks all....

How old is your house where they don't have grounded outlets?
For your tank you should run GFI outlets.

 

[litlepig11]

are gfi the ones im thinking w/the little bottons in the middle?...idk...50's maybe...the box had been updated...looks like around 70's or 80's...the house we in now not ground either...we are the 2nd occupents of a house built in 1900...so you its okay to continue to run things ungrounded?

 

[stdreb27]

Originally Posted by litlepig11
http:///forum/post/3041599
are gfi the ones im thinking w/the little bottons in the middle?...idk...50's maybe...the box had been updated...looks like around 70's or 80's...the house we in now not ground either...we are the 2nd occupents of a house built in 1900...so you its okay to continue to run things ungrounded?
Grounding removes some risk. GFI plugs are the plug with the switch in the middle.
IMO you really should check all your wiring. Because you are a high risk for fires.
Then you have a fishtank in there with saltwater, and fishtanks put a huge load on your wiring. And that adds to your risk.

 

[scsinet]

Reuben makes a good point. If the wiring in your house is old enough to not be grounded, that brings into question the electrical draw of the tank and your house's ability to handle it.
Houses have had grounded electrical systems for the last 50+ years now. If your house has ungrounded wiring, it wouldn't surprise me if the house is built before 1960. I'm not sure when the exact date was that the code mandated that grounded wiring be used, but it was at least that far back.
GFI outlets (the "bathroom type" as you put it) CAN be installed on an ungrounded circuit. What cannot be done is simply installing grounded outlets in an ungrounded system. Many pieces of tank equipment are grounded such as pumps and lights, and should not be used with "adapters" to run them on an ungrounded circuit. An electrician should easily be able to add a "ground rod" to your wiring and provide grounded circuits for you.
However, houses that old usually had much smaller electrical services. Less than 100 amps is not uncommon. It could easily be 60 amps. I'd suggest having an electrician evaluate your electrical service and make a determination of whether adding this kind of electrical load is safe. On a 60 amp service, two extra circuits represent quite a jump in electrical demand, so you may want to check into it to be safe.
You don't see 60 amp services much nowadays. Usually homeowners have upgraded their service by now.

 

[litlepig11]

ahh...yes i was hopeing you would chime in...thanks for the info...more questions to come in a couple days...after i get the electrican out there....