Electric shock in tank

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

xoomercom said:
TO SUM UP: How bad is 7-11V of stray voltage and how bad is a reading of 48V???

A reading of 7-11V isn't bad at all. If I remove my grounding probe mind goes to around 25V. Having one powerhead jump up to 48V? That sounds very bad. I am very surprised that isn't tripping the GFCI.

I recommend keeping something like this on hand.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/YELLOW-JACKET-GFCI-Extension-Cord-Adapter-2762/204667709

That way you can test any potentially bad equipment with a different GFCI. I suspect your GFCI is bad if it isn't tripping.

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
A reading of 7-11V isn't bad at all. If I remove my grounding probe mind goes to around 25V. Having one powerhead jump up to 48V? That sounds very bad. I am very surprised that isn't tripping the GFCI.

I recommend keeping something like this on hand.
https://www.homedepot.com/p/YELLOW-JACKET-GFCI-Extension-Cord-Adapter-2762/204667709

That way you can test any potentially bad equipment with a different GFCI. I suspect your GFCI is bad if it isn't tripping.

I do have one of those yellow thingies and will test tonight, GFCIs that I have in the wall are brand new Leviton brand. I don't think I'd have multiples that are bad.

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
If you can feel it, it should have tripped the GFCI.

Agreed.... but I think what I felt back then was salt water stinging my open wounds. No cuts on hands - no stings.

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

HB AL said:
Mine was reading closer to 100 and dropped to 3, acros where suffering till i figured it out.

What piece of equipment was the offending one?

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

xoomercom said:
I do have one of those yellow thingies and will test tonight, GFCIs that I have in the wall are brand new Leviton brand. I don't think I'd have multiples that are bad.

It could be that you don't have a ground path since you don't run a ground probe. You can set your meter to measure current and take a reading from the tank water to a receptacle ground. That might trigger a trip.

Jason Bianchi · Jul 18, 2018

I ran into the same result and it turns out it was my heater.

HB AL · Jul 18, 2018

xoomercom said:
What piece of equipment was the offending one?

A 5 year old hydor korilia powerhead.

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
It could be that you don't have a ground path since you don't run a ground probe. You can set your meter to measure current and take a reading from the tank water to a receptacle ground. That might trigger a trip.

Will try that

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

HB AL said:
A 5 year old hydor korilia powerhead.

BINGO, that's exactly what I am dealing with here. except its probably older.

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
It could be that you don't have a ground path since you don't run a ground probe. You can set your meter to measure current and take a reading from the tank water to a receptacle ground. That might trigger a trip.

So I went home during lunch and did the test. Fluke switched to A (AC), one probe in the ground socket on the GFCI and the other one in the tank, reading 1.25 mA; I believe that's too low to trip the GFCI.

As to the yellow pass-through GFCI, I tested that too, it wouldn't trip either.
I have 7 powerheads on the power strip and an AUX 12V P/S for Apex. Total draw is around 80W BTW per APC UPS, that these are normally plugged into.

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

xoomercom said:
So I went home during lunch and did the test. Fluke switched to A (AC), one probe in the ground socket on the GFCI and the other one in the tank, reading 1.25 mA; I believe that's too low to trip the GFCI.

As to the yellow pass-through GFCI, I tested that too, it wouldn't trip either.
I have 7 powerheads on the power strip and an AUX 12V P/S for Apex. Total draw is around 80W BTW per APC UPS, that these are normally plugged into.

I'd say that everything is fine then!

BZOFIQ · Jul 18, 2018

Brew12 said:
I'd say that everything is fine then!

That's good to hear...but 48V seems excessive.

Im thinking to replace that one powerhead to knock it down to 12V, I've got my money's worth over and over with that offending Koralia.

Tonight I'll also manually force my heaters on to make sure there is no leakage there.

ZoWhat · Jul 18, 2018

Electrical motors used in submerged water are sealed in glass. Its usually green colored glass.

Overtime the glass develops micro cracks where the saltwater reaches the electricity. Thus you're feeling the small electrical circuit in the tank.

It will only keep getting worse over time.

Takes two people but unplug all devices and plug each device in one at a time until the 2nd person feels the "tingle".

Once you isolate that device, pitch it in the trash and replace it.

curiouser · Jul 18, 2018

If you have a cut on your hand/wrist/arm that gets in the water you might be exposing yourself to infection. Consider wearing a long waterproof glove if you have such a cut.

Brew12 · Jul 18, 2018

xoomercom said:
That's good to hear...but 48V seems excessive.

Im thinking to replace that one powerhead to knock it down to 12V, I've got my money's worth over and over with that offending Koralia.

Tonight I'll also manually force my heaters on to make sure there is no leakage there.

It does seem high. You may be able to reduce it by making sure it doesn't have a cord coiled outside the tank resting against the glass.

drblakjak55 · Jul 18, 2018

Great to read. Same experience. Funny but strong tingle with a cut. Found my Hydor Koralia powerhead was trying to kill me. But I didn’t think any fish or coral were affected.

vetteguy53081 · Jul 18, 2018

automatically get a ground Probe which is super easy to install and if no GFCI- install one ASAP. Ground probe available cheap at Marine Depot, BRS and Dr Fosters and Smiths. All offer free shipping

tony'stank · Jul 19, 2018

I had the same problem. I could not find the source. At the recommendation of an electrician I tried the following. I HF a go grounding plug. As soon as we I plugged it in. The GFI tripped. I then unplugged submerged electrical equipment one by one. After I unplugged a piece f equipment I plugged in the Grounding plug. Eventually I traced the source to my Eheim cact reirn pump. Even though I could see nothing wrong with the pump, I replaced. No further problem and no further shocks

BZOFIQ · Jul 19, 2018

curiouser said:
If you have a cut on your hand/wrist/arm that gets in the water you might be exposing yourself to infection. Consider wearing a long waterproof glove if you have such a cut.

You're absolutely right and generally speaking I either wear gloves or if I have deeper cuts I ask my wife to help grab/move something.

Sometimes I just can't help it if I'm in a rush.