corals losing tissue due to voltage??

orthokardia · Sep 13, 2012

i removed three powerheads that were shocking me. could a ton of voltage cause tissue loss (from corals)?

palvyre · Sep 13, 2012

SmyrnaReefer · Sep 13, 2012

Fish:

Continual scratching
Lateral line corrosion
Strange fungal infections along the lateral line or on the mouth/forehead

Coral:

Extensive loss of zooxanthellae in SPS and LPS coral
Tissue recession and polyp bail-out in SPS coral
Shriveled up and discolored soft coral
Complete "melt down" of soft coral
Leather coral shed excessively and will not extend their polyps

Tridacnid Clams:

Retraction of the mantle, sometimes in only one place
Central bleaching of the mantle

Shrimp:

Excessive molting

pickupman66 · Sep 13, 2012

Um.. YES!

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slayeroftheshadow · Sep 14, 2012

Yes! Add a titanium probe till u find the source.

orthokardia · Sep 14, 2012

thanks for the inputs. i found the three powerheads and they are in the trash. glad it was just the frag tank

and thankful not to be shocked each morning.

Neptunus · Sep 14, 2012

Man what are the chances that you have 3 leaking powerheads?

orthokardia · Sep 15, 2012

it might be a bad plan to buy complete systems with the box of extras that every one has. combine them over the years into one big box. then use that box to set up a new tank. now that i think of it there was probably a reason the previous owners were not using the things in the box.

Neptunus · Sep 15, 2012

I had a voltage leaking pump just last month. $30 multimeter isolated the problem in seconds. IMO a multimeter should be used regularly and all likely hood saved me a lot of money in corals and fish. I wouldn't get rid of a pump or powerhead or whatever just beacause it is used.

.AcroKiller. · Sep 16, 2012

Ok im not trying to hijack the thread but i had a similar issue but never figure it out the other day i bought about 10 frags 1 of them been a strawberry shortcake and the other been a melon mili 2 to 3 days after i added the frags the melon and the strawberrys flesh completlly was gone they were both into skeleton within does days, you could see the flesh just pilling out. All otter frags are looking great and they were all at the same level. Dies any body is familiar with this issue

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orthokardia · Sep 16, 2012

that is what i have heard called RTN and i think it has many causes

sluicebox · Sep 16, 2012

If everything was plugged into a GFCI wouldn't that trip if the pumps were to leak any voltage? Am I missing something or all aquarium systems be protected with GFCI? Is there any need to test the water for stray voltage if you're protected by a GFCI? Would this be an additional safety measure?

gmoney243 · Sep 16, 2012

sluicebox said:
If everything was plugged into a GFCI wouldn't that trip if the pumps were to leak any voltage? Am I missing something or all aquarium systems be protected with GFCI? Is there any need to test the water for stray voltage if you're protected by a GFCI? Would this be an additional safety measure?

I don't think most use. Gfci trip very easy and at times I've heard of ppl on vaca having tank crash due to gfci triiping over nothing. I use a ground probe for stray voltage.

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orthokardia · Sep 17, 2012

my gfci did not trip for a week

Reefer2 · Sep 17, 2012

If gfci did not trip with stray voltage the gfci is worn out and needs replaced

WesF · Sep 17, 2012

Reefer2 said:
If gfci did not trip with stray voltage the gfci is worn out and needs replaced

Stray voltage will not trip a ground fault CURRENT interrupter unless it is grounded with a grounding probe.

Neptunus · Sep 17, 2012

IMO using a grounding probe to draw the current away is not the solution but isolating and removing the source is.

MBG75 · Sep 17, 2012

WesF said:
Stray voltage will not trip a ground fault CURRENT interrupter unless it is grounded with a grounding probe.

That is correct

Neptunus said:
IMO using a grounding probe to draw the current away is not the solution but isolating and removing the source is.

Grounding probe is not supposed to be a solution. It is a protection from stray current

pelagic · Sep 17, 2012

From what I read, grounding probe will protect you, but not the fish/coral. if you have stray voltage and install the probe, it will actually shock the fish/coral instead of you.

MBG75 said:
That is correct

Grounding probe is not supposed to be a solution. It is a protection from stray current

WesF · Sep 17, 2012

pelagic said:
From what I read, grounding probe will protect you, but not the fish/coral. if you have stray voltage and install the probe, it will actually shock the fish/coral instead of you.

This is where the GFCI comes in. You shouldn't use a grounding probe with out a GFCI.