Can we talk grounding probes quick?

scottedontknow · Dec 16, 2019

So there is about 10000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000 kinds/brands of gounding probes on the market currently. Is only REALLY better than the other so long as its a solid titanium probe? Any of you guys/gals using one for an extended ammount of time? How are you testing them to make sure they're actually working/ still working?

NeonRabbit221B · Dec 16, 2019

Ya know, I have about 3 that I bought from amazon about a month ago that I never installed. Massive fear of electrocution but for some reason I never jumped on the aquarium safety items... For those that do not use them, is it out of the safety of the fish?

scottedontknow · Dec 16, 2019

I feel like this topic is full of mixed opinions. i have one but i only have it in there because others said YOU NEED one, im wondering how many people do it for the same reason lol. I also want to know how many people actually test them and how often

NeonRabbit221B · Dec 16, 2019

Its a question of personal safety vs fish safety from what I understand. If you are ungrounded, the livestock will likely not have an issue as its like birds on a telephone wire but if you touch the tank you can get a nasty shock as you are acting like the ground. If you are grounded and something breaks, the current has something to ground too which can kill livestock before the gfic can react in some instances. I know in general to not run a ground if you do not have it plugged into a gfic.

I recently purchased some gfic plugs and ground probes but currently my tanks are measuring negligible voltage <30 volts...

TheOne · Dec 16, 2019

I have one in my sump but I'm not sure its needed since I have two titanium heaters that both have three prong cords. So I'm guessing they would act as grounding probes also? I run mp40's in the DT so no cords there.

This one has been in my sump for two years.

vetteguy53081 · Dec 16, 2019

I use them for a piece of mind

kyleinpdx · Dec 16, 2019

I dont understand why someone wouldn't. Personally, I think much of the aversion comes from "arm-chair electricians" and many of the folks who are qualified to make the determination of running one, in fact do.

crusso1993 · Dec 16, 2019

Highly and strongly recommended. Just ask my friend, @Brew12 !

Mical · Dec 16, 2019

I'm with Vette on this one, I use them for peace of mind also. Who knows when a cable or heater will short out. Someone on R2R recently had an urchin chew through a return pump cable in his sump. So never say never on a safety precaution is my theory.

crusso1993 · Dec 16, 2019

vetteguy53081 said:
I use them for a piece of mind

Piece of mind, you say? We know you and, yes, your mind is definitely in pieces!

(Sorry bud... couldn't stop myslef!

)

crusso1993 · Dec 16, 2019

Oh, if I'm not mistaken, @Brew12 has a very good article about grounding. The link escapes me but maybe he will supply it for us.

Quietman · Dec 16, 2019

Have one, wouldn't not have one. Even with three pronged cords.. And yeah, have some working knowledge of electricity from Navy.

Big pool of highly conductive saltwater with electricity running into it. No brainer for me...even with GFCI (those things can fail and my life is easily worth the 15 bucks for a ground probe).

scottedontknow · Dec 17, 2019

I also run one, actually i have one in each of my tanks, but id love to know the lifespan like is the one ive been running for the past 4 years still running as it was the day i bought it? i get that its just a grounding probe and its a very simple piece of equipment, but is there a way test it? or does everyone just do the out of sigh out of mind, or just replace them every few years as they cost almost nothing to buy.

Daniel@R2R · Dec 17, 2019

I use a titanium heater, so ya know... same thing.

italquam · Jan 16, 2020

vetteguy53081 said:
I use them for a piece of mind

What kind do you use?

vetteguy53081 · Jan 16, 2020

italquam said:
What kind do you use?

All mine plug in to direct outlet into the ground itself.

Brian_68 · Jan 16, 2020

The question is why wouldn't you? GFCIs fail all the time, a titanium ground probe direct wired to your plug does not. I rather the current go thru the ground probe to ground, not via my heart.

LegendaryCG · Jan 16, 2020

It's a very good idea to ground your tank and have GFCI if you prefer not to be electrocuted.

GK3 · Jan 16, 2020

I bought an electronic glass breaker and mounted it to the side of my tank. Then I split the power cord out. I ran the the ground to my house ground as normal. I stripped the hot wire and put the bare copper in my tank. Now if i get any stray voltage, it activates the glass breaker and shatters the side of my tank. That way, all the water leaks out immediately (reduces shock for me) and it activates quick enough that my fish won’t be electrocuted. Now I am just waiting for the stray voltage before the copper kills my corals.

fermentedhiker · Jan 16, 2020

Ground probes are a good idea if you are using a GFCI to power the tank as it gives an alternative path so that the GFCI can operate immediately when a fault occurs. I'm not a fan of them if you don't use a GFCI as at low amperages they become an alternate conductor which may not involve enough current flow to trip a breaker making them a defacto heating element and as such a fire hazard.