Stray voltage question

bsstover · Aug 8, 2015

I have recently had some corals LPS and SPS showing signs of dying off (bleaching and not opening up/melting). I have checked all of my parameters daily at various times and not seeing anything that would be of concern. I have finally decided to check for stray voltage. After placing a voltmeter in my tank, I am getting a readout from 53-58, which I understand anything over 50 could be of concern. Unplugging device by device I did not see a significant change in this reading suggesting that not any one single device is the culprit. My question is two fold. 1) Is there a possible other source of voltage that I am missing? I have unplugged everything to no avail. 2) Is it possible that with all the pumps and equipment we have on our tanks these days that the cumulative effect of all of these pumps is putting this over and is this of concern? Thanks for any input.

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 8, 2015

I think stray voltage is unlikely to impact corals unless it is a flowing current.

Are all of the pieces of equipment on a GFCI?

Do you have a grounding probe?

bsstover · Aug 8, 2015

Randy thank you for your reply. I do agree that it probably doesn't affect too much unless it is true current. I do not have a probe. I guess my question in terms of that would be, would a ground probe create a current by completing a loop?

Diesel · Aug 8, 2015

Recently we discussed the stray-monster on here.
Just check this thread out, https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/tank-contains-voltage.206527/
I don't think you have a OD on stray.
Can you give us some more info,
A. Total water volume ( Please include sump, etc.)

B. What are your parameters? ( CA, ALK, PO4,Salinity, etc.)

C. Type of lighting. Please include age, watts, and bulb/ballast name.

D. Filtration method (Skimmer, GFO, DSB, etc.)

E. What types of corals do you keep other than SPS?

F. How long has the tank been running?

G. What are you dosing? Dosing schedule?

H. Which brand of salt are you using?

I. What brand of test kits are you employing?

J. What are you using for CA/ALK supplementation?
K. What are you using for flow? (Pump names, how many, placement, etc.)

Recently I discussed with Michael and Randy the importance of Oxygen too but haven't finalized my findings yet

Randy Holmes-Farley · Aug 9, 2015

bsstover said:
Randy thank you for your reply. I do agree that it probably doesn't affect too much unless it is true current. I do not have a probe. I guess my question in terms of that would be, would a ground probe create a current by completing a loop?

The outlets should be on a GFCI, and if they are, current flowing will trip it and you'll know there was a fault somewhere.