Stray voltage in 50 gallons

[ezan88]

I need some advice regarding growing coral. I have some leather coral , toadstool, GSP, and Xenia , for some reason they are either getting smaller or half closed for the past 1.5 years still surviving but not growing at all. It is a 50 gallons tank , one wavemaker , protein skimmer , maxspect jump165 light at 80%, eshopp sump. I have always wondered why I have so much troubles growing coral, all my fish are fine, all my parameter are fine except my KH hang around 10-11 . Salinity is around 35ppm.
Yesterday, while cleaning my tank, I decided to test if my tank have any stray voltage, it come out to around 45 v. And there is also a 50 micro amp current (1/ 1000th of mA) . I unplugged each of my equipments the voltage went down gradually to 2 volt. Each of my equipment contribute around 10 v , which I think this is due to induction, even my maxspect light put in 15 v. I did some research there are many said if there are stray voltage then the equipments should be replaced. I have a lot of freshwater tanks that have shrimp and fish, I tested those tank ,they all have somewhat stray voltage. The shrimp and fish are fine and breeding, so I am thinking stray voltage might just a normal thing for tank that have equipment. I am curious if anyone here have high stray voltage in their tank and their corals are still thriving. I want to make sure it is not other parameters that causing my coral to not thriving than replacing the pumps.

 

[Dragen Fiend]

I've only encountered this once and I was actually getting a tingle shock when touching the water.

I never did measure but I essentially unplugged things until the shock feeling went away (dumb method I know). Eventually found the powestrip to be at fault.

You can try a few things like making sure your outlet is GFCI or grab an adapter. Replace the powerstrip or be safe and get a ground probe. (what I have now).

I've researched enough to see anything from 0-30v seems to be norm. Now if you have high volts with a grounding probe. You have a problem.

I'd argue the stray voltage is not likely the cause for no growth.

 

[theMeat]

Ground probe paired with a gfci outlet a must imo. Once that’s ruled out… Maybe do a complete water test to see if there’s anything causing issues.

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[Gumbies R Us]

I highly recommend using a gfci outlet! This can prevent a fire from happening and potentially save you and your tank.

 

[ezan88]

I will probably switch my outlet to GFCI, I didn't know that power strip could be a source of strag voltage how could this happen?

I've only encountered this once and I was actually getting a tingle shock when touching the water.

I never did measure but I essentially unplugged things until the shock feeling went away (dumb method I know). Eventually found the powestrip to be at fault.

You can try a few things like making sure your outlet is GFCI or grab an adapter. Replace the powerstrip or be safe and get a ground probe. (what I have now).

I've researched enough to see anything from 0-30v seems to be norm. Now if you have high volts with a grounding probe. You have a problem.

I'd argue the stray voltage is not likely the cause for no growth.

I will probably switch my outlet to GFCI, I didn't know that power strip could be a source of stray voltage since it is ground to the outlet. Interesting.

 

[exnisstech]

I've not had issues with stray voltage causing problems with any livestock including coral. I had 50 volts from leaking koralia powerheads.

 

[BeanAnimal]

There is no such thing as "stray voltage" - it is a term that needs to go away.

You are reading INDUCED voltage that is a result of electrons moving in the wires and pumps, magnetic fields and friction...

Using a DVM to measure this is very pointless unless you are reading ~90 voltage or above to ground and can confirm substantial current flows at that voltage. Doing so would indicate a fault... but the easier way is to just use a GFCI as the testing device with a ground probe.