Aquarium grounding probe

[3rdMoon]

So I reached into my tank yesterday and got a mild shock. The tanks only been up for 2 weeks (still cycling) and every piece of equipment in it is brand new. I’ve looked at everything but can’t find an obvious problem. Apparently this isn't an uncommon occurrence in the hobby. Any suggestions? I ordered a grounding probe and it came in just now. Does it matter where I put it? In the DT? The sump?

 

[vetteguy53081]

I place in display tank. Check for stray voltage in display tank. If gone- Good. If not , try sump.
Power heads , Even new , generally culprits followed by return pumps

 

[TheHarold]

A ground probe is not an alternative to finding the damaged equipment leaking power in the tank. Find it, fix it, and maybe install GFCI while you’re at it

 

[theMeat]

Doesn’t matter sump or display, they are both connected via water which is a conductor.
As long as probe is plugged into a grounded outlet it works.
Your equipment should be plugged into gfci protected circuit. This is the only way to go.
Once this is done if you do have stray voltage you will trip the gfci. You can plug things in one at a time to find the culprit

 

[vetteguy53081]

A ground probe is not an alternative to finding the damaged equipment leaking power in the tank .

Its actually AN alternative, Not a solution
(I believe that is what you were trying to say and I agree)

 

[3rdMoon]

A ground probe is not an alternative to finding the damaged equipment leaking power in the tank .

I never stated that I didn’t plan on tracking down the problem. Simply asking a question about the ground probe. Perhaps we should stick to topic at hand?

 

[TheHarold]

Its actually AN alternative, Not a solution
(I believe that is what you were trying to say and I agree)

If you are leaving the damaged equipment, may as well not do a ground probe and just wear rubber shoes

 

[theMeat]

A ground probe not paired with a gfci outlet is arguably worse, because it completes the circuit. A reg non gfci breaker works on amps. It will need to get close to amperage it’s rated for to trip. As an example, if you have less stray than 15 amps on a 15 amp breaker you will simply continue to electrocute the water unless or until you reach 15 amps. With a gfci in a fraction of a second it will trip because of the fluctuation in ground. You can plug in equipment one at a time to find the one with stray voltage because it will trip the gfci

 

[3rdMoon]

A ground probe not paired with a gfci outlet is arguably worse, because it completes the circuit. A reg non gfci breaker works on amps. It will need to get close to amperage it’s rated for to trip. As an example, if you have less stray than 15 amps on a 15 amp breaker you will simply continue to electrocute the water unless or until you reach 15 amps. With a gfci in a fraction of a second it will trip because of the fluctuation in ground. You can plug in equipment one at a time to find the one with stray voltage because it will trip the gfci

The tank is in my bedroom and so doesn’t have GFCI outlets installed. As a result I’m running everything thru surge protected power strips with GFCI. None of the power strips tripped and yet I still received a mild shock. I’ve got an electrician buddy on his way over to TS the issue.

 

[theMeat]

The tank is in my bedroom and so doesn’t have GFCI outlets installed. As a result I’m running everything thru surge protected power strips with GFCI. None of the power strips tripped and yet I still received a mild shock. I’ve got an electrician buddy on his way over to TS the issue.

Do you have a ground probe installed with the gfci?
Should have your bud change outlet to a gfci

 

[3rdMoon]

Do you have a ground probe installed with the gfci?
Should have your bud change outlet to a gfci

Yeah everything runs thru the GFCI power strips. And my buddy suggested the same thing. I’m headed up to Lowe’s now to buy GFCI outlets for him to install. I really appreciate you advice without the condescension I seem to get from other reefers.

 

[theMeat]

Yeah everything runs thru the GFCI power strips. And my buddy suggested the same thing. I’m headed up to Lowe’s now to buy GFCI outlets for him to install. I really appreciate you advice without the condescension I seem to get from other reefers.

Cool beans. Sharing info is what makes this site great. Dipsh!ts are a part of life.
Let us know how you make out

 

[Lasse]

If you looking for a source of the stray voltage - look at your heather (if it is on with its own regulator) or your pumps (DC pumps can be a source too) IMO - you should not use a heater with built-in thermostat - with them - it is not a question if it will fail - it is a question of when it will fail! Use a titan heater with separate regulator. Use it on a grounded outlet - you get a safe heater and a grounding probe in the same time!

Sincerely Lasse

 

[theMeat]

Yeah everything runs thru the GFCI power strips. And my buddy suggested the same thing. I’m headed up to Lowe’s now to buy GFCI outlets for him to install. I really appreciate you advice without the condescension I seem to get from other reefers.

Try plugging ground probe directly into wall outlet. Any wall outlet will do, does not need to be gfci to be grounded. Equipment should be on gfci

 

[Joekovar]

What's the weather like there lately? Has it been colder than usual? Low humidity?

My tank has zapped me twice in the last 2 days. Same scenario, everything's brand new.

I was worried until my doorknob zapped me, then I realized it's been cold for a few days, the humidity has dropped out of the air, and static electricity is building up on me and discharging when I touch my water, which means the tank has to have a good path to ground for my static charge to jump to it.

That, or somehow the chemistry in my tank is creating a charge opposite to my body's static charge.

 

[3rdMoon]

If you looking for a source of the stray voltage - look at your heather (if it is on with its own regulator) or your pumps (DC pumps can be a source too) IMO - you should not use a heater with built-in thermostat - with them - it is not a question if it will fail - it is a question of when it will fail! Use a titan heater with separate regulator. Use it on a grounded outlet - you get a safe heater and a grounding probe in the same time!

Sincerely Lasse

Everything’s in my system has a DC pump

If you looking for a source of the stray voltage - look at your heather (if it is on with its own regulator) or your pumps (DC pumps can be a source too) IMO - you should not use a heater with built-in thermostat - with them - it is not a question if it will fail - it is a question of when it will fail! Use a titan heater with separate regulator. Use it on a grounded outlet - you get a safe heater and a grounding probe in the same time!

Sincerely Lasse

Ive got a Hygger heater control with a titanium element in the sump. My buddy’s titanium heater failed after less than a month, but (from what I’ve read) that’s more of an aberration than the norm. He’s an electrician and is on his way over to help troubleshoot the problem.

 

[esther]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but curious if there is a specific grounding probe that people recommend? Do they differ from brand to brand?

 

[theMeat]

Not trying to hijack your thread, but curious if there is a specific grounding probe that people recommend? Do they differ from brand to brand?

It’s a simple device. Any titanium, aquarium grade is fine

 

[Lasse]

Hygger heater control with a titanium element in the sump

If that is grounded the right way - it works as a ground probe - I`m astonished that you get an electrical shock with that in your sump! Was the circulation on?

Sincerely Lasse