Everything causing stray voltage? What am I doing wrong?

[Quietman]

So I imagine there's a difference of potential between your tank and the house 'ground'. Not a bad thing at all and probably induced by the running equipment. If you measure current between tank and ground you'll likely see 0 amps (you're looking for tenth of amp or less for stray current levels).

If you see stray current in the several hundredths to tenths of amps - then be very careful and proceed to unplug everything and monitor. A tenth of an amp can kill you in the right circumstances.

If not, then the grounding wire (if kept maintained) should eliminate the positive voltage reading.

And a GFCI is just required for your safety. Install it and check it often (they can fail as they age).

 

[CoralReefer1019]

If power strip is grounded it works, would prefer plug ground probe directly into any wall outlet that is grounded.

yes the power strip is grounded and I just plug the grounding probe directly into power strip and the other end inside my tank

 

[Greg P]

Your grounding probe does not need to be connected to the same power bar/strip as your tank, as long as your whole house is properly grounded

Your grounding probe can then be installed in any outlet in your house

 

[CoralReefer1019]

Your grounding probe does not need to be connected to the same power bar/strip as your tank, as long as your whole house is properly grounded

Your grounding probe can then be installed in any outlet in your house

I don’t have a extra outlet next to my tank only available outlet is on the grounded power strip so I just plugged ground probe on strip

 

[Greg P]

I don’t have a extra outlet next to my tank only available outlet is on the grounded power strip so I just plugged ground probe on strip

Sounds OK but provide a picture

 

[CoralReefer1019]

Sounds OK but provide a picture

You can see in the pics the probe is inside my tank and it’s plugged into a belkin power strip that is grounded

 

[Westside Guy]

I have one duplex GFCI outlet on the wall directly behind my tank. The next closest outlet where I can install a GFCI outlet is not close at all. Currently I have a DJ rack mount type of power strip mounted inside of my cabinet and it is plugged into this GFCI outlet. Can I now buy a grounding strip and plug it into the other available opening on the same GFCI outlet?

If yes, what reliable brands of grounding strips do folks recommend for this purpose?

 

[Paul B]

I assume it’s not an issue but I don’t like that there is something that I can measurably ground out in a tank full of creatures naturally sensitive to electrical fields.
It may have no real power to it but neither does what the fish can sense.

Stray voltage will not kill your fish. It will do nothing. Every AC electrical appliance or load will induce a voltage into another conductor near it, like salt water.

When you walk under high voltage power lines, induced voltage is induced into your head. Unless you have a purple Mohawk, that induced voltage is not doing anything to you.

If you don't want any induced voltage in your tank you can either shut everything off or only use DC power near your tank. You can get DC pumps and your heater will work on DC. You can re wire your LED fixtures so that only DC goes near your tank.

If your fish are going to die, they will still die, but not because of any electricity.

(Master Electrician 50 years, reef tank owner 48 years)

 

[theMeat]

Westsideguy
The ground probe does not need to be plugged into a gfci. It only needs to be grounded. The tank equipment should be plugged into gfci

 

[ca1ore]

I have often posted that I don’t think there’s a bigger red herring in this hobby than ‘stray’ voltage. I literally never worry about it. Be mindful of the potential for a submerged item to bleed current into the tank certainly, but that’s more than stray. In fact, I have an insulating pad on the floor to isolate me from ground whenever I put my hand into the sump. Only shock I ever got was from my mixing barrel when a PH had a cracked cord ..... ouch!

 

[Westside Guy]

Westsideguy
The ground probe does not need to be plugged into a gfci. It only needs to be grounded. The tank equipment should be plugged into gfci

I am confused, my power strip inside the cabinet is plugged into the GFCI outlet. However if I buy a ground probe am I ok plugging it into the same GFCI outlet?

Also is there a reliable brand for the ground probe that people recommend?

 

[theMeat]

I am confused, my power strip inside the cabinet is plugged into the GFCI outlet. However if I buy a ground probe am I ok plugging it into the same GFCI outlet?

Also is there a reliable brand for the ground probe that people recommend?

Yup. Only saying probe doesn’t have to be plugged into gfci. Any outlet that is grounded works, and plugging probe directly into outlet instead of power strip or surge protector better
Any titanium aquarium grade probe should be fine. From brs, marine depot etc

 

[Westside Guy]

Yup. Only saying probe doesn’t have to be plugged into gfci. Any outlet that is grounded works, and plugging probe directly into outlet instead of power strip or surge protector better
Any titanium aquarium grade probe should be fine. From brs, marine depot etc

Thanks I followed your advice.