Voltage/Current in Tank

[Schgred]

I have been setting up my 90 gallon tank and am running into a snag. I'm noticing that if I put my hand into the sump or if my hand is wet and I touch the skimmer dial I get a bit of a shock. Nothing crazy, but enough to make me think. I've tried unplugging things to see if there is one culprit and it doesn't seem that one piece of equipment is the problem. I am running two heaters in the sump, the skimmer, the return pump, and a pump to feed my phosban reactor.

When I have shoes on I don't get the shock but when I'm barefoot I do. I tested the tank using a multimeter and on the 200 setting on it I am getting a tiny reading of .1.

What's going on? Is it maybe not stray voltage but stray current? Is there a difference? How do I test it accurately? I'm not electrically minded like this so keep it simple if possible. Thanks!

 

[Bad Company]

Don't test with barefeet and fingers! Do: ground one end of the probe (third round prong on normal plug). Set multi-meter to voltage readout, put the other end in the water (anywhere), and experiment with unplugging equipment until you isolate the source.

 

[Schgred]

I did this and I got a reading of .1. Is .1 significant?

 

[Reefing Madness]

.1 is not significant at all. Sure its not a static shock from you walking around on carpet? I ge this all the time, but its just an initial shock, but thats just it, nothing after that, if you have voltage in the tank, it would tingle, and not go away.

 

[Schgred]

Wouldn't static shock happen one time and then be done? That is unless I feel the shock, walk around, and then come back again? The tingle/shock that I felt happens more than one time.

The multimeter I am using is set at 200 ACV. I have the black probe in the ground on an extension cord, and the red probe in the water.

 

[Reefing Madness]

Yea the shock would happen just once, but voltage is a tingly feeling while your hand is in the water itself.
How to test for stray voltage in an Aquarium - YouTube

 

[Schgred]

I'm beginning to think that maybe my multimeter is not working properly. After seeing that video, I am going to test it like he tested it in the beginning o the video.

 

[H2O]

I had a korila 4 powerhead leak electric ones I was also getting that little shock ..unplug everything then plug in one by one and check one by one the reading should be 0 ..look into titanium ground probe good thing to have that should of been a must have kind of thing for all fishtanks because electric and water together is serious risk of getting fried and the main electric plug has to be grounded so accidents don't happen

 

[Reefing Madness]

I'm beginning to think that maybe my multimeter is not working properly. After seeing that video, I am going to test it like he tested it in the beginning o the video.

 

[BristlePad]

So what happened?

 

[Paul B]

I am an electrician so once my friend called me to come over because his wife was getting shocked from her stove. So I went there and he said to touch the stove. So I touched the stove and didn't get a shock. Then he said to touch the stove with one hand and the sink with the other hand. I did that and didn't get a shock. So he says to touch the stove with my tongue and touch the sink with my foot.
I said how exactly does your wife cook?

Your tank is fine, that is induced current, all tanks have it and if they didn't, they are lit with candles. Forget about it and go out to dinner.

 

[Schgred]

^ Hilarious!

I haven't had a chance to do anything else yet. I'll keep this updated. Thanks for all your help!

 

[joekidwell]

I had the same problem once, I unplugged everything one at a time till no more tingle and replaced the problem. It was one of my powerheads in the dt.

 

[luxauterna]

any further word on this Schgred? Are you still having that little shock? I ask because I think I am going through the same with some equipment that I haven't been able to isolate yet

 

[Schgred]

For some reason I haven't had any issues anymore. I didn't do anything either.

 

[Paul B]

Yes you did. You waited 3 weeks

 

[luxauterna]

I have been having the same issues only at the 10-12 volt range. I went through with a multimeter and it showed that almost everything I had plugged in had about a .5 - 2 volt release. The highest was 3-4 from one of my koralias