Stray voltage

[akrite]

I think my fish might be getting shocked by electricity. I have a 20 gallon tank with some firefish and Yasha gobies and yesterday morning I watched one of my firefish freakout. Rapidly dashing from one side of the tank to the other 4 or 5 times before stopping and having a seizure like twitching then breathing its last breath. I thought it was dead as it laid on the bottom of the tank with its body curved in a "C" shape. A I looked at the other fish they just hid in a hole probably scared from the firefish, they appeared to be fine. Over a minute had passed and as I got the net to scoop it out it to a deep breath, then another so I left it and went to work. When I returned it was swimming infront of the tank as if nothing happened so I fed the tank like normal.

Then today I noticed its not to active and didn't eat when I fed the the tank. I know firefish can be skidish but I never saw this before. My LFS believes I might have stray voltage from my HOB skimmer or filter. There is no heater in the tank. Any other ideas what could be causing this? If it is stray voltage how do I check for it and stop it?

 

[geckoejon]

Get a volt / multi meter, put one lead into the water, and the other to a grounded wire. I use a screw on my light for a ground. If you have voltage, unplug one thing at a time, until it goes away.

Awhile back I lost a bunch of ricordia and sps. It was from stray voltage. I had a power head that was still working, but leaking 110v into the tank... That stunk.... I got rid of all my pumps and traded it in for a single do pump.

 

[akrite]

Thanks for the tip. Bad news is I have to buy a new filter or skimmer.