Morbid...but do you worry about getting shocked?

revhtree · May 15, 2020

THIS IS NOT ABOUT FEAR MONGERING BUT ABOUT PRECAUTION!

No one likes to think about these things but I think it's good to discuss and good to be aware! A lot of times when I messing with sump equipment my hands are wet and I'm plugging stuff up etc. Obviously the plugs are not wet! But it does go through my mind at times that I'm dealing with a lot of water and electricity here. For me my tank's equipment is all on GFCI circuits so that does give me some peace of mind but it doesn't totally alleviate the fears. Let's talk about this today!

1. Do you ever worry about getting shocked by your aquarium water?

2. What are some ways you take precaution to not get shocked?

kkiel02 · May 15, 2020

I dont worry but have gotten shocked two times pretty good.

AZMSGT · May 15, 2020

I've been shocked by allot worse. But, my tank is also set up with the equipment that is in the water going to GFCI outlets. So odds are pretty low that I'll get a shock.

EricGRIT09 · May 15, 2020

With everything on GFCI and with a titanium heater element (ground), I don't worry about it too much. Once or twice I've made the GFCI flip - reinforces that decision and gives me continued peace of mind.

JJ Ligs · May 15, 2020

I do not worry in my tank or when doing tank work I keep all my cords and power strips organized and have room for drip lines. Now I have gotten myself while mixing a few times by having some water on my hand and snatching a plug out to switch buckets but that was stupidity on my part so I do think twice about it during mixing.

mfinn · May 15, 2020

I use GFCI outlets and ground probes, but there has been a few times while cleaning equipment not in the tank that I have gotten a buzz.
Many years ago I was standing on a wet metal stool doing maintenance on a tank and I dropped the end of a shop light fixture into a tank and the electricity grabbed me and very fortunately my foot slipped off the stool ( maybe I was jerking?) and broke the connection. I remember my arm hurt for a day or two.

Angelwolf21203 · May 15, 2020

One of my biggest fears is is electrocution and I have been shocked by my tank before, due to a faulty circulation pump. So yes, I keep it in the back of my mind, but I still enjoy the hobby.

kyleinpdx · May 15, 2020

Not here, grounding probes, grounded battery backup and GFCI's.

I never understood the aversion to grounding probes. Listen to Brew12 and the rest of em. It can happen.

andrewey · May 15, 2020

I don't worry about it. Before my stuff was grounded, I was shocked 3 or 4 times. One was really bad and the contraction of my muscles in response to the electricity threw me a few feet (exposed metal halide transformer wire). That one wasn't pretty and I had a few where my arms stung for a day, but I haven't been shocked in a while. Honestly, of the things I'm worried about (secretly rusting magnet, power outages, my sand sifting goby will bury my chalices when I'm not looking, etc.), getting shocked just isn't near the top for me.

Matt Peacock · May 15, 2020

Yes. I am as it happens in the middle of lockdown project to build a system to better cater for this risk, and for the risk of fire (being in a salty environment increases the resistance of conductors over time even without a direct spill).

It's worthwhile noting an important difference here. In the US, I understand you have as a matter of course 5 mA GFCI outlets. In Britain, we call those RCDs. However, it's quite unusual to have an RCD on an outlet (which we call a socket) unless you are looking at e.g. an outdoor outlet/socket next to a hot tub. We typically protect an entire circuit at the fuse board but with a 30 mA RCD. Obviously, this difference raises some considerations when it comes to this hobby. I also understand the States tend to have more arc fault protection as standard, which is something we are very embryonic on. We have some of the best electrical safety in the world (and are very proud of our plugs

) and tight restrictions on the nature and quality of electrical work, greater still in areas exposed to humidity or water, but I find it staggering that almost every time I come online I see daisy-chained indoor extension leads on the floor next to a sump.

All that aside, I still believe the greater risk we face is one of fire. Although I guess you never hear from the people who had a fatal shock...

dbowman5 · May 15, 2020

i voted Other.
Whenever there is impure water touching electricity there is conduction. Whenever there is insulation and electricity there is electrical potential, whenever there is corrosion there is degradation of material.
Given these anytime you introduce yourself as a conductor between potential and ground there is the chhance of conduction. Given enough current there can be damage. do i want to become a filament? no thanks. in the saltwater or FW environment i am cautious not worried. I insert my hands into my tanks on a regular basis. Best practice is to use one hand and be aware of what equipment is operating properly prior to getting wet.

sfin52 · May 15, 2020

Two weeks I took a nice jolt. One of my power heads went bad. I stuck my hand in the water zap pop wow that tingled. Took .e five plugs to figure it out. My main circulation pump.

Captmcfly · May 15, 2020

I’m an electrician by trade so when I set things up it’s always safety first and foremost, gfci is your friend!

Greybeard · May 15, 2020

Grounded titanium heater tube and GFCI outlets.

No problems.

Conrad Noto · May 15, 2020

Not usually, but did have a powerstrip piggybacked off a powerstrip. Something shorted, powerstrip was smoking, sparking and burst into flames. Killed my pumps and wavemakers. Lighting and skimmer were on other outlet, skimmer kept everything alive for a week while I got new equipment and rewired.

kyleinpdx · May 15, 2020

I'd like to edit my previous post but since its been too long, here a new one.

I only voted "No" since I have taken all the reasonable precautions. IMO if you dont have a grounding probe you should be at least aware of the potential danger, if not concerned.

PicassoClown04 · May 15, 2020

Mixed up some reefroids and started feeding when I remembered all my pumps and powerheads were still on *face palm*. Squatted down under the tank after wiping my hands on my jeans and tried to unplug the pump and powerheads. Hands were still damp and I accidentally touched the metal prongs and shocked the hell out of my arm. Thought I was gonna die but I ended up fine after like 2 minutes lol

ca1ore · May 15, 2020

Funny, I voted never ,,,, yet that's not true as I do take precautions ….. I use a Styrofoam pad on the floor by my sump which insulates me form any small shocks. The display is one floor up and any submerged wires there are low voltage DC.

richarddeweerd · May 15, 2020

In my display tank there will only be a DC streamer so no real risk there, in my sump I will have an AC skimmer and a titanium heater which is connected to earth. And all my outlets in the house are protected by a GFCI

dbowman5 · May 15, 2020

is there an item of equipment that goes between the ground plug and ground that lights up when current is going through it? be handy to sit next to the tank.