My tank is shocking. Tingles like a 9v battery.

[Dancingmad]

When I touch my tank it feels like a 9v battery. I've narrowed it down to 4 possible pieces of equipment, but need to know for sure. I don't like the idea of shocking myself to narrow it down further... + My nems are pretty grouchy. Anyway - I have a multimeter and a selective, basic understanding of electronics/electricity. Not sure how to test this.

What settings and where do I put the ground(black) and lead/line/whateveritscalled(red)?

Plz and thx!

 

[GnarleyMarley]

Sorry, I'm no electrician but what I do when I have a short is unplug everything, then put my hand in the tank and plug everything in one by one till I find it

 

[SteveSTL]

The wider slot in an outlet "should" be the neutral. Stick the black prong into the neutral and put the red in the water. Turn the multimeter to the 200v AC and see what the voltage is. Then unplug until it goes away. Test them ALL - don't just assume it's one.

 

[143MPCo]

@Brew12

 

[SteveSTL]

Oh, the 200V AC is the one on the right with the squiggly line "~"

 

[Dancingmad]

Thanks y'all. Culprit found: Powerhead. I was positive it was the heater, but got fooled. Readings:

~90 with the powerhead on
~02.2 with the powerhead off

I got a grounding rod for smiles and grins today. Not sure if the 2.2 is still bad, but I think the rod'll remove it, right?

 

[redfishbluefish]

Yes, the squiggly line 200V is the one you want....and it doesn't matter what color goes into you tank and which one goes to ground. So put on probe end in the water and the other to a good ground....the round plug in a wall outlet. Read the volt reading on the multimeter. That's it.

 

[redfishbluefish]

While I was typing you responded.....the 2.2 is just fine....that's most likely induced voltage. I don't mean to open a can of worms, but I personally don't believe in grounding probes. With that probe, you'd never know you had a problem....short of seeing your fish and corals suffer with current in the tank. The probe (alone) only protects you!

 

[Brew12]

I personally don't believe in grounding probes.

You probably don't believe in Santa, either!

 

[redfishbluefish]

You probably don't believe in Santa, either!

Wait one minute....I believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, Ganesha, the Tooth Fairy....wait, how did that elephant sneak into the room.....Oh well, I believe in him too! But I don't believe in grounding probes (only if used in conjunction with a GFCI....and that's down right foolish!....unless you want that GFCI popping when you're on vacation.) I'd rather take the tingle....or as stated by the OP, the 9 volt jolt!

 

[scardall]

Thanks y'all. Culprit found: Powerhead. I was positive it was the heater, but got fooled. Readings:

~90 with the powerhead on
~02.2 with the powerhead off

I got a grounding rod for smiles and grins today. Not sure if the 2.2 is still bad, but I think the rod'll remove it, right?

The LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED TO ME, IT WAS A POWER HEAD TOO. Shocking experience Huh?

 

[Brew12]

Wait one minute....I believe in Santa, the Easter Bunny, Ganesha, the Tooth Fairy....wait, how did that elephant sneak into the room.....Oh well, I believe in him too! But I don't believe in grounding probes (only if used in conjunction with a GFCI....and that's down right foolish!....unless you want that GFCI popping when you're on vacation.) I'd rather take the tingle....or as stated by the OP, the 9 volt jolt!

Well, you know I disagree with that. We may only average 3 deaths a year from aquarium related electrocutions but that is still more of a risk than I am willing to take for me and my family.
I don't know many people who would say my set up which combines grounding probes with GFCI is foolish. I'm confident my tank would survive for days after a GFCI trip with no intervention on my part.

 

[Specfishin]

I was cleaning a skimmer in vinegar in a small cooler I have and 77 volts hit me a couple times. Had a wire break before it went into sealed pump. Didnt feel good, but i'm wondering how long the leakage was occuring. Never felt before and I'm setup over a wood flooring. I'm thinking i was insulated most of the time. Way different than primary voltages.

 

[Brew12]

I was cleaning a skimmer in vinegar in a small cooler I have and 77 volts hit me a couple times. Had a wire break before it went into sealed pump. Didnt feel good, but i'm wondering how long the leakage was occuring. Never felt before and I'm setup over a wood flooring. I'm thinking i was insulated most of the time. Way different than primary voltages.

Working on wood floors is much safer than standing on concrete floors. Concrete is a relatively good conductor of electricity.
In the US you are over 10 times more likely to be killed by household level voltages than primary voltages.