Tank contains Voltage

[Feltman]

U didn't by chance have a big leak or mess recently or give your equipment a vinegar bath? I notice if I don't dry my sump out good enough after a spill I'll get stray voltage for a few days and I've seen vinegar break down insulation on pumps if mixed to strong for to long.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Nope. Nothing. And it's not "old"... While setup just started a year and a half ago.

 

[Samuel ports]

Did you test other things besides your fish tank for stray voltage especially outside your house? Stray voltage will also vary randomly if it's from Some utility company.

 

[kkgaskin90]

No, didn't know that was a thing

 

[Samuel ports]

i believe if your electric company has issues with their neutral wire your house ground will takeover as it and that will cause stray voltage. However that's just my guess.

 

[n2585722]

If you volatges are not inductively induced in your tank and you add a grounding probe the GFI breaker will trip. I hope you do have a GFI breaker or breakers on the outlets to your tank. This would be for your own protection. I would not use a grounding probe in the tank without a GFI breaker on the tank's power outlets.

If the voltages are inductively induced then you will probably not be able to get rid of them. These are created in the water by the magnetic field created by these loads.

 

[kkgaskin90]

How would I know the difference? And if inductively induced, will adding the grounding probe help even though I can't get rid of the problem?
I installed a GFCI.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Please read up on grounding probes. The grounding probe (along with GFCI) will only protect you and potentially hurt your fish. However, with your current situation the GFCI will constantly pop.

You have stray voltage.....some inductively produced from anything that spins...and some potentially from cracked wires (voltage leak). The only way to tell them apart is to stop the item from spinning while still supplying electricity to that item.

You also need to understand the difference between voltage and current. Think of voltage as a battery sitting on a table. It's simply voltage....and it's not flowing or going anywhere. Once you complete a circuit, you now have current. It's current that kills, not voltage. The grounding probe allows for current...the flow of electricity, and that is the killer....and so you would now have current flowing through the water in your tank to complete that circuit.

One last point....I have seen articles that some fish could be bothered by voltage alone. So when you identify considerable voltage leak, replace that equipment.

 

[kkgaskin90]

I understand all of that, and I've read everything I can find. The confusing part is literally EVERY piece of equipment I have is giving off voltage. I can test the Gyre while powered but not spinning, but the heater, ATO, skimmer, and pump are simply plugged in or not.

 

[redfishbluefish]

The equipment that puts inductive voltage are spinning things.....pumps and powerheads. The heater and ATO will not produce any induced voltage. I think I said this before, I'm not sure if I trust your voltage numbers because the ATO only has the end of a float switch in the water (unless you're including a submersed pump), and the voltage to that float switch is DC volts. You shouldn't see any AC volts from a typical ATO float switch.

 

[kkgaskin90]

So, in your opinion, what's the best move?
I don't understand why I'm getting the numbers I am. Especially from the ATO. But the multimeter functions correctly when testing an outlet.

 

[Paul B]

Induced voltage is normal, every tank has it and that same voltage is also going through you when you get near an electrical appliance. You can't stop it. You can drain it off with a ground probe but that voltage will still be induced. Any conductor such as you or your tank water will have a voltage induced into it when it is near AC current. When you walk under power lines, voltage also gets induced in you. But I realize these induced voltage threads can get complicated so I will get out of it now. Good luck
(Master Electrician in Manhattan 40 years, retired)

 

[redfishbluefish]

On the outlet you are using, did you test the voltage between the ground plug (the round one) and the longer flat plug (white wire)? You should have zero volts.

 

[AlexG]

When you are testing for voltage with everything off does this include the lights or just pumps and heaters? If there is salt creep there is a chance it could come from the lights.

 

[spotlessaqua]

Sounds like you have a microbial fuel cell developing in your tank! Can refugium muds combine with the right wires to cause a current transfer I.e. Carbon wire brush and titanium? Or do you have an r.o. Unit that runs directly from your faucet to a float valve on the tank could be electrical transfer there! Possibly concrete floor, it's weird but used to get shocked playing guitar while barefoot in the garage from "stray current"! Wet dry wall doesn't help? Salt creep from a previous leak behind the tank within the carpet? Usually when on a clients tank it's there chiller giving a small charge only reason it doesn't get figured is they usually plug there powerful chiller into a separate breaker so unplugging there system while chiller still plugged in unnoticed? Does your lighting have a ground wire in case you did retro fit?

 

[kkgaskin90]

Yes, I tested the outlet. Left slot tests 0. Right slot tests 122.

No chiller. No RO unit hooked in. No wet drywall. No wet carpet. I've wiped down all cords. Not sure what you mean about the lighting but it's a ReefBreeders Photon 48 with a 3 prong plug.

 

[kkgaskin90]

Induced voltage is normal, every tank has it and that same voltage is also going through you when you get near an electrical appliance. You can't stop it. You can drain it off with a ground probe but that voltage will still be induced. Any conductor such as you or your tank water will have a voltage induced into it when it is near AC current. When you walk under power lines, voltage also gets induced in you. But I realize these induced voltage threads can get complicated so I will get out of it now. Good luck
(Master Electrician in Manhattan 40 years, retired)

So is the amount of voltage in the tank acceptable or harmful? And will adding the ground probe make it worse or better?

 

[Paul B]

It's all induced voltage, it's all good. Go out to dinner and have a nice glass of Merlot. Every tank has it. "Every" piece of ac equipment will induce voltage including the wire that connects that equipment. If it is 12o volts that is a voltage leak and you will know right away as you are flying across the room after you put your hands in the tank. Have fun

 

[kkgaskin90]

It's all induced voltage, it's all good. Go out to dinner and have a nice glass of Merlot. Every tank has it. "Every" piece of ac equipment will induce voltage including the wire that connects that equipment. If it is 12o volts that is a voltage leak and you will know right away as you are flying across the room after you put your hands in the tank. Have fun

My main concern is for my poor deteriorating Tang. It's getting worse, even with daily food soaked in vitamins

 

[Paul B]

The voltage has nothing to do with your deterioating tang. I can't tell from here why he is deteriorating. Soaking his food in vitamins will not cure him.