Electric current in tank

[the_chef_pierre]

So my nassarius snail has been acting weird and now I probably figured out why. I put my hand into the water and felt a mild electric current coming from it. I don't know where it is coming from. I don't have any livestock in my tank yet, thank god, as it has only just finished cycling. Can someone try to help me figure out what to do? The only sources of electricity are my light (which is new and likely not the culprit), return pump, 2 circulators, heater, thermometer and ATO. Please help

 

[Daddy-o]

Get an ohm-meter and ground the neg. put the point of sale. into the water and slowly unplug things.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I dkmt have an ohm meter. Still new to reefing. The current is mild enough that it only tingles if I put my finger in when everything is on. Should I just try each thing individually? Any idea what the likely culprit is? Could I maybe just have too many things plugged in? Does that cause anything?

 

[the_chef_pierre]

If I put my finger near the return pump area I can sort of feel it but cant tell if its actual an electric current or just vibration coming through the return hoses.

 

[Daddy-o]

an ohm meter is cheap.

 

[WVNed]

Looking for electricity with your finger is like seeing if your chefs knife is sharp by dicing your pinky.
A decent meter can be had for $10 at walmart, Home Depot or places like that.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Stalwart-Digital-Multimeter-Tester-Volt-Amp-Ohm-Frequency/55485898
We can tell you what to do with it. It is not complicated.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Is there any specific type to buy? I know nothing about electricity obviously lol. Can anyone link me a particular one through homedepot.ca or walmart.ca as I'm in canada

 

[W1ngz]

To properly and safely test this you should get a GFCI outlet or power bar, and a grounding probe. Some voltage is normal in the water, and a volt or multi meter won't accurately tell you all of the equipment that has exposed electricity to water.

Just last week I knew I had one bad powerhead and the voltage I measured would always jump about 20v with that one turned on. I actually had two, and wouldn't have found the second without a proper GFCI and ground test.

Using Ground Probes in Aquariums

Seawitch submitted a new Article: Using Ground Probes in Aquariums Note from the Editor: Some time ago, our resident electrical guru, @Brew12, wrote a good article on the forum at the beginning of a discussion thread about using ground probes for your aquarium. As soon as I saw the article, I...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[WVNed]

I posted a link for you above. One of those. Search for volt meter.

 

[WVNed]

To properly and safely test this you should get a GFCI outlet or power bar, and a grounding probe. Some voltage is normal in the water, and a volt or multi meter won't accurately tell you all of the equipment that has exposed electricity to water.

Just last week I knew I had one bad powerhead and the voltage I measured would always jump about 20v with that one turned on. I actually had two, and wouldn't have found the second without a proper GFCI and ground test.

Using Ground Probes in Aquariums

Seawitch submitted a new Article: Using Ground Probes in Aquariums Note from the Editor: Some time ago, our resident electrical guru, @Brew12, wrote a good article on the forum at the beginning of a discussion thread about using ground probes for your aquarium. As soon as I saw the article, I...

www.reef2reef.com

Yes, it will. If used correctly.

 

[W1ngz]

I know nothing about electricity obviously lol.

Yes, it will. If used correctly.

IMO GCFI and ground is the better option here.

 

[KyOsIBa515]

I would unplug the equipment that has power chords submerged in the water. Check for any knicks or insulation on the power cord that may have damaged on accident.
Otherwise an ohm meter will tell you if the motors on the pumps are grounding out.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

I have a power bat but no gfci or grounding probe. So confused

 

[WVNed]

The get a handy friend to do it for you.

 

[WVNed]

@Brew12
Help. Lots of really bad advice here.

 

[Johnd651]

A cheap meter similar to this. Black will go in ground and red into water. As you unplug stuff, if you see a big change it tells you that the last thing you unplugged was "leaking" power. Basically your sending it safely into the grid and monitoring vs using a body part and grounding yourself.

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Ok. Off to home depot I go. Thank everyone. Thank god there's no fish yet. Just feel sorry for my poor snails that somehow survived lol

 

[the_chef_pierre]

By the way can I plug the black into a ground port on the same power bar that all my equipment is plugged into?

 

[WVNed]

Yes

 

[the_chef_pierre]

Also does it matter where in the water I hold the red?