shocking experience

TarHeelReefer22 · Nov 18, 2013

Ok so I woke up as usual around this time to pee and I usually stop on my way to the bathroom with my flashlight to observe my tank at night. Keep in mind I am barefooted and standing on tile. I was so happy with new frag polyp extension and chalice tenticles just as if they were waving at me "hey daddy" when I noticed my hollywood stunners tenticles where wayyyy out I would have to say five six inches. Never seen them this long.

Anyways I had recently put a psmmacora frag in that area and noticed it was getting hit by the tenticles. Frustrated I reached in the tank to relocate my psmmacora and I was lit up. I mean I have had a mild shock before but man this time it held on. Needless to say I think I am ok although the flashlight which was in my mouth ended up in the tank and broke a nice new frag off my acro. I am not sure how long I was hit for but I almost immediately threw up and ashamed to say peed a bit haha.

Still though no laughing matter I have everything but the return pump unplugged now and will test in the am if I can even get back to sleep. I did remove the flash light and glued the broken branch to a plug! True reefer at heart but I will say I had to talk myself into putting my hand back in the tank. :squigglemouth:

Eienna · Nov 18, 2013

TarHeelReefer22 said:
Ok so I woke up as usual around this time to pee and I usually stop on my way to the bathroom with my flashlight to observe my tank at night. Keep in mind I am barefooted and standing on tile. I was so happy with new frag polyp extension and chalice tenticles just as if they were waving at me "hey daddy" when I noticed my hollywood stunners tenticles where wayyyy out I would have to say five six inches. Never seen them this long.

Anyways I had recently put a psmmacora frag in that area and noticed it was getting hit by the tenticles. Frustrated I reached in the tank to relocate my psmmacora and I was lit up. I mean I have had a mild shock before but man this time it held on. Needless to say I think I am ok although the flashlight which was in my mouth ended up in the tank and broke a nice new frag off my acro. I am not sure how long I was hit for but I almost immediately threw up and ashamed to say peed a bit haha.

Still though no laughing matter I have everything but the return pump unplugged now and will test in the am if I can even get back to sleep. I did remove the flash light and glued the broken branch to a plug! True reefer at heart but I will say I had to talk myself into putting my hand back in the tank. :squigglemouth:

Ouch!!!

TarHeelReefer22 · Nov 18, 2013

Yeah and strange symptom is my left hand from about mid forearm (not the hand that was in the tank) is tinggling like it is asleep strange. Still feelimg a bit sick to the stomach as well
:tongue:

Eienna · Nov 18, 2013

TarHeelReefer22 said:
Yeah and strange symptom is my left hand from about mid forearm (not the hand that was in the tank) is tinggling like it is asleep strange. Still feelimg a bit sick to the stomach as well
:tongue:

You may have damaged some nerves...you'd best see a doc in the morning.

misscoral · Nov 18, 2013

You sure your ok? I got hit a few times myself, didnt get sick ti my stomach. Depending on how many volts you took. Be careful no jokung matter. Im a nurse, I dont think its super serious but iwould say dont go right back to sleep. Watch yourself for a bit..just to be safe. Im sorry that happen to ya. What a shock huh?

goodtimes · Nov 18, 2013

I've been there and its scary. My heater was to blame. I'm not sure if it helps but now before I stick my entire arm in the tank I test with my finger first, lol.

spspirate · Nov 18, 2013

WOW man! Any update?

mainereefer · Nov 18, 2013

hope all is well!! I got hit by an 800w heater a few months ago, I feel your pain!!! always where sneakers when messing with the tank!! (you wont ground the stray voltage)

TarHeelReefer22 · Nov 18, 2013

Still working on the source...the tingling is still coming and going hope its not perm

TarHeelReefer22 · Nov 18, 2013

I am pretty sure that the electricity was coming from this point of sale Rio pump I acquired when I picked up a used system. It was just laying around so I decided about a week ago I was going to add it to my SPS tank just for some added flow. Since I have taken it out I have not been shocked again but I am still entertaining the idea that I might have an issue with "salt creep". I was reading about how salt accumulation in the sump or around the electrical areas under my stand can let the power leakage run to the tank. My stand is a Deep Blue built stand that was made for the tank. The design is great the materials they used not so much it is well lets be honest falling apart on me. There is little ventilation under my stand and condensation builds up regularly. Not to mention the doors are swelling and all the joints are rusting to hell and tearing out of the walls. Time to DIY a new stand from solid wood :/ and Ill be sure to make plenty of openings to allow for air circulation as well as covered areas for my powerstrips.

Velodog2 · Nov 18, 2013

Was ur equip plugged into a gfci?

TarHeelReefer22 · Nov 29, 2013

That was the only piece that wasn't I usually us power strips that are gfci and just said the hell with it this one time till I could get another and sure enough I learned the hard way! I am happy to report that I have made a full recovery and the tingling sensation has passed. For a week after I had a strange involuntary twitch in my finger which now has also stopped! More stories here are welcomed I wouldn't wish this on anyone! I feel like the more hobbyists are aware of this danger the more helpful this thread can be!

WhoKnew · Feb 4, 2014

No joke here. Salt water is the perfect conductor of electricity. A doctor should be consulted. You certainly do not want permanent nerve damage or organ damage. I also am a nurse and don't usually give advice to people I don't know. But YICKS.

Genesis Corals · Feb 4, 2014

GFCI and grounding probe. I still just touch the water with a finger first to make sure after being shocked by my old pumps. I did take a big one when putting together my LEDs, like an idiot I had plugged it in to test something and didn't unplug it before touching the wires in order to put a wire nut on them. Hope all is well, a good lesson for others to learn from your experience.