close call!!

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

just want to remind people to check your system regularly! mainly the power wires.... last night I had a bulk head leak it dripped down the wire of a hang on filter not bad because of the drip loop..well the problem was the drip loop on the heater wire was moved so it redirected the water to the powerstrip....

I woke up at 5am smelling burning plastic!!!!! thank god there was enough water so when the gfi popped the water still dripping put the fire out... tank was about 2g low...

for those who believe in luck look at what I woke up to find still very hot!! the back is burned worse than the front

Russellaqua · Oct 14, 2014

Yikes! That's lucky things weren't far worse. Kinda makes you wish you could plug everything into the ceiling now...

mainereefer · Oct 14, 2014

yup thank god it wasnt much worse! (I dont believe in luck

)

the worst part is at the beginning of the year a skimmer overflowed and dumped water on a powersupply for a wp pump, almost same thing happened....

maybe someone will read this and it will save them from burning down their house. ...

reggaedrummin · Oct 15, 2014

I had a similar experience. I was in the next room and heard commotion coming from the foyer where my tank is setup. I initially assumed it was my roommate but it continued so I went to check it out and discovered my tank leaking onto my electrical. It was arching and well on it's way to starting a fire. The carpet and strip were extremely hot, and the strip was ruined. I got very lucky that was all. My cords are all looped now. The power strips are mounted on the wall away from water and I added clamps to all my hose connections.

The most ironic part of it is that I come from generations of electricians and have even worked in electrical myself... I knew better but assumed it wouldn't happen to me.

Learn from mine and the other's mistakes. These things happen and for all of us, if the circumstances had been different, the outcome could have been far more tragic.

Plan for the worst and hope for the best!

760mason · Oct 15, 2014

GFCI + drip loops. Power supplies mounted above and away from anything that can be in contact with water....Saltwater will catch fire and do things fresh water wont when it comes to electricity.