Who uses a grounding probe??

Aquachristik · Mar 23, 2021

Who here uses a grounding probe such as the Rid-Volt?? Some say it is a waste. Others swear by them....
Wonder what people think of them nowadays

Idoc · Mar 23, 2021

After sticking my hand into tingling water due to stray voltage, I think they are a good thing to have.

But, I still think they must be removed and the water tested with a volt meter occasionally to ensure there isn't a bad piece of equipment leaking voltage into the water.

Sarcazian · Mar 23, 2021

Last week I would have said no need, but I recently got zapped by a bad powerhead that is on a GFCI outlet (maybe bad).

We add just about every other redundancy to our system(s), so why not a grounding probe?

I think the added question is in how many places are you running them? For the folks that always use them, are you using a volt meter to test the places without a probe (water storage, QT, etc) before touching the water? Are you wearing rubber gloves instead?

fishguy242 · Mar 23, 2021

absolutley 100% 1 in tank, 1 in sump...better safe than sorry..agree take out clean probe ...should not run a tank without...jmo..

Robdacarguy · Mar 23, 2021

Aquachristik said:
Who here uses a grounding probe such as the Rid-Volt?? Some say it is a waste. Others swear by them....
Wonder what people think of them nowadays

Hi, yes, use a grounding probe. I’ve learned over the years, pumps and heaters get old, they can crack and leave stray electricity into the water, kills snails , and most fish will get stressed and die. It’s not worth losing that 300 dollar fish, or more. Corals won’t tolerate stray voltage at all. Hope this helps.

Sarcazian · Mar 23, 2021

fishguy242 said:
absolutley 100% 1 in tank, 1 in sump...better safe than sorry..agree take out clean probe ...should not run a tank without...jmo..

So, a question... It seems like these need to be plugged directly into the GFCI, so do you have four GFCI (2 x 2) behind / next to your tank? I mention 4 outlets since you likely have a power strip or two running equipment.

"For device to function properly, use of extension cords or use of extension cords or power strips is forbidden."

I guess this is potentially why I was zapped since I had the powerhead in daisy chained power strips.

mdb_talon · Mar 23, 2021

Sarcazian said:
Last week I would have said no need, but I recently got zapped by a bad powerhead that is on a GFCI outlet (maybe bad).

We add just about every other redundancy to our system(s), so why not a grounding probe?

I think the added question is in how many places are you running them? For the folks that always use them, are you using a volt meter to test the places without a probe (water storage, QT, etc) before touching the water? Are you wearing rubber gloves instead?

You should most definetely test the GFCI, but if you have GFCI and no ground probe it would not be uncommon for it not to trip in that situation. If it was less than about 5 milliamps it wont trip.

In any case the situation more dangerous than no ground probe is a ground probe without GFCI(or faulty GFCI). The ground probe completes the circuit and that is when you are going to feel a serious shock not just the tingly zap.

GFCI and a ground probe to some extent makes the scenario more dangerous to your critters(if it is below the threshold to trip the GFCI) because again it completes the circuit.

I use a ground probe, but just saying it is essential that people have a correctly working gfci or you could be making things worse.

monkeyCmonkeyDo · Mar 23, 2021

Nope. No probe. No gfci. If it flips my breaker on my house. I just have too much stuff plugged in. LOL
D

mdb_talon · Mar 23, 2021

Sarcazian said:
So, a question... It seems like these need to be plugged directly into the GFCI, so do you have four GFCI (2 x 2) behind / next to your tank? I mention 4 outlets since you likely have a power strip or two running equipment.

"For device to function properly, use of extension cords or use of extension cords or power strips is forbidden."

I guess this is potentially why I was zapped since I had the powerhead in daisy chained power strips.

Assuming the power strips had a ground wire(i think all newer ones do?) It should not really matter. If it is a 2 prong strip(or you use a 2 prong adapter anywhere) then that is a whole other issue.

fishguy242 · Mar 23, 2021

Sarcazian said:
So, a question... It seems like these need to be plugged directly into the GFCI, so do you have four GFCI (2 x 2) behind / next to your tank? I mention 4 outlets since you likely have a power strip or two running equipment.

"For device to function properly, use of extension cords or use of extension cords or power strips is forbidden."

I guess this is potentially why I was zapped since I had the powerhead in daisy chained power strips.

yes ,all on dedicated gfci circuits, in basement ,all at ceiling..

sorry tank lights off,flashlight pic..

Tastee · Mar 23, 2021

Ground probes in all three tanks, dedicated aquarium circuit with GFCI. As we run 240v in Australia one circuit is sufficient for all tanks in my case.

LegendaryCG · Mar 23, 2021

Yes because it’s dumb not to, it’s a simple and cheap measure you can take to protect your animals and yourself.

Doctorgori · Mar 23, 2021

yeah the number of ground probe or not threads is nearly as many os salt vs salt threads but less than sand vs bb tank threads ...

but regardless, safety is always relevant ...

I dunno, in 1967 a incandescent green bulb in a metal reflector 2” above the metal rim of a 5gal Metaframe brand aquarium full of water was safe enough for a 6yr old ... My 100W Hartz glass heater only fell in the tank occasionally. ...

I’ve been shocked 20 times and still I’m normal...and I why waste $15 per tank ?

Seriously tho, better safe than sorry/dead ...

infinite0180 · Mar 23, 2021

gfci, ground prode, and two brs titanium heaters that are grounding probes in themselves...

Aquachristik · Mar 24, 2021

Seems like I'm grabbing one then!

Idoc said:
After sticking my hand into tingling water due to stray voltage, I think they are a good thing to have.

But, I still think they must be removed and the water tested with a volt meter occasionally to ensure there isn't a bad piece of equipment leaking voltage into the water.

Also need to get a multimeter, mine was toast the last time I went to use it. Thanks for the reminder.

Kershaw · Mar 24, 2021

Just out of curiosity don’t you have to be grounded to get shocked by stray voltage?
when I was a kid we had a fountain in the front yard. If we touched the water while bare foot we would get shocked. If we where wearing shoes we wouldn’t and our dog would jump up in side and lay in the water on hot days.
I’m not saying don’t use one as I am dangerous when it comes to electricity. And by using one are you not completing the circuit?
My house also does not have a dedicated ground rod which in my limited understanding means a GFCI or a ground probe may not work properly.

vetteguy53081 · Mar 24, 2021

I have 3 tanks and one in each tank

KStatefan · Mar 24, 2021

Kershaw said:
Just out of curiosity don’t you have to be grounded to get shocked by stray voltage?
when I was a kid we had a fountain in the front yard. If we touched the water while bare foot we would get shocked. If we where wearing shoes we wouldn’t and our dog would jump up in side and lay in the water on hot days.
I’m not saying don’t use one as I am dangerous when it comes to electricity. And by using one are you not completing the circuit?
My house also does not have a dedicated ground rod which in my limited understanding means a GFCI or a ground probe may not work properly.

A GFCI does not need a ground to work They monitor the hot and common and if they are not almost the same they will open the circuit