Think I'm getting a slight shock when I touch the water. What tool?

[Michael43]

so it's weird. I think I'm getting the slightest shock when I touch my frag tank water. The tank is plumbed into the display and the only electrical item in the tank by itself is the powerhead. Obviously I unplugged that and still get the feeling. From there one by one I literally unplugged everything and can't find the culprit. The main tank and sump water don't give this slight feeling. Very weird. What type of meter can I buy to check this and have on hand? Fish and coral don't seem bothered.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Small cuts will give you a feeling similar to a mild shock when placed in saltwater.

That being said, stray voltage is easy to test using a multimeter. With the meter set to volts AC (symbol looks like this - ṽ ), put one probe in the water (doesn't matter which one), and the other probe in the ground plug in an outlet.

Note, it's normal to see some induced voltage.....won't cause a "shock."

 

[justingraham]

Where in dirty jersey dou live I have a multimeter if ya wanna test ur stuff

 

[Michael43]

I actually thought it may be a cut on my finger because I do have a habit of biting my finger nails. And it only shocks my thumbs. But I don't get the feeling in the display

I'm in northwest nj. Vernon to be exact.

 

[justingraham]

Yeah I'm in cherry hill that's a lil far but ur more then welcome to it

 

[Michael43]

I sincerely appreciate it. Seems like a basic one isn't too expensive. Will be good to have in the arsenal so going to buy one

 

[redfishbluefish]

You can pick up an inexpensive multimeter at Harbor Freight for six bucks......but it sounds like you have a small cut on you thumb.

 

[justingraham]

Yea so unless ur running electric in ur house or in ur car the six dollar one will work just fine