Stray Voltage-Saltwater Aquarium
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- Опубликовано: 19 сен 2024
- After reading a comment on a previous video, I started researching the affects of stray voltage in a saltwater aquarium. Through that inquiry, I also read about the importance of using GFI/GFCI safety plugs. After reading about GFCI plugs in a saltwater aquarium, I immediately started looking into having an electrician come to my home to install the safety plugs. After consulting with my electrician friend, he came up with the idea of customizing a power strip with individual GFCI plugs as shown in the video. I also discuss the use of titanium grounding poles in a saltwater tank. Your feedback on these subjects is highly encouraged. Thanks.
Just got into the hobby and found your videos very informative. I figured I'd comment on this and give some insight on this topic. I'm an electrician and do highly recommend the use of a gfci protection in the system. The idea with the power strip and using multiple gfci protectors is a great failsafe to not shut down the whole system in the case of a single devise failure. But I do feel the grounding of the water itself would cause more problems itself. Being that saltwater is very conductive, it is natural that it could have some stray voltage in the system. By placing a grounding electrode in the system, I feel your giving the system a reason to pass the voltage to ground and that could cause more issues for the livestock. Think of it as a battery. The battery is harmless until you give a path for voltage to travel. So as long as you have properly protected the system with gfci protectors there wouldn't be any true voltage issues. Hope this was somewhat useful.
Hey BigT, thank you very much for your input, especially since this is right up your alley! My thought is if I have 50+V in my water then I have to FIX it rather than throw a probe in the water. I think some hobbyist use probes to divert ANY level of stray voltage, since most systems have small amounts of stray voltage in their systems.
Thank you for your support and PLEASE do not hesitate to throw out any questions.
Great video, I'm going to Home Depot tomorrow! It's amazing how much time/effort/money I put into keeping my fish and corals safe, but I forget about myself.
you didn't mention the multi meter should be set to AC voltage for the none electricians,but great subject and well put out
thanks for the shout out! I'm glad to help. I like the individual gfci idea. great video once again.
Damn good idea. I've been zapped because of a heater. Wish I thought of this for sure! Thanks for sharing!
I think a ground pole is an easy way to eliminate a potential problem in the tank. I haven't done the research, but I can't think of a downside. Also, why "must" you have a GFI / GFCI protected outlet for a ground pole to work? Stray voltage in your system will simply exit the tank to ground with or without a GFCI. Help me out or point me in a direction for information. From what I know, grounding the water (even without GFCI) will protect from electrocution better than nothing at all.
Electronics engineer here. The GFCI is there to protect people against shocks be checking the system for an imbalance by measuring current flowing in to the system and the "return" so to speak. However a GFCI, by my knowledge, is required by law to be on your house installation (is in Europe). So if that GFCI is more sensitive than what you have just put on your outlets it will turn off instead, so be sure to buy some that are more sensitive than that.
Great vid mate. Those plugs must be called something else I the UK could only find us compattablle ones.
I'm confused why corals in sand would cause issues if there's stray voltage
Very good video. Nice helpful tip!
A ground probe can also cause voltage in a tank in some conditions.
A ground probe is only a band aid and not fixing the problem, only the symptoms. It could be anything leaking voltage in a tank such as a heater which will cause problems.
I lost 90% of coral in a 250g tank from voltage. I did not feel it with my hand. I first noticed my candy canes retracting. Corals closet to bad pump showed first signs. The voltage leak lasted 5 days. When I learned how to check for stray voltage is when I discovered the pump that was leaking but still operational. It took 2 weeks for the last corals to die. first to go were sps's. anemones and clam survived. all my meat corals eventually died including 3 bleeding apples. the tank was very full of coral. I'm a seasoned hobbyist but this one got me. I experienced voltage leakage about 25 years ago that I could feel with my hand but I only had fish and they were fine. For now on I will test for voltage at the first sign of distress and I now have a ground from the water to the outlet ground. The voltage was not that high and I've seen some people say a little in normal but I have zero after removing the one bad pump. Wish I knew to check it that first day.
+likes2fly Geez, that is a crazy experience. Thank you very much for sharing your story. It really drives the idea of checking for stray voltage home. I pretty sure I would breakdown like a child and start crying if I lost everything as you did. Glad to hear you popped right back into getting your hands wet. Now I know you don't have to feel the tingling to confirm there is a leak. Thanks again!
Good job man, HD & Lowes give 10% off to VETS/MILITARY so thats handy if you got it.
Ok so you added the gfci what if you have it the way you do (or any one ) what do you do if you want to add a controller like apex and reef angel would you still be able to add the gfci to the apex (or any controller power supply strip like The energy bars ?
I have personally used the titanium ground plug at my store in the invertebrate display... I noticed that when I had a cut on my hand and I touched the water, id get a zap. after putting the grounding plug in, I still feel the electrical current in the system.. I think it is bull.
Do you still QT your fish? I took all my fish out and put in QT and was wondering how long it takes the ich to die in the DT.
Gfci are good, but could be deadly to your tank. It it trips and your pumps , heaters, etc turn off and your on a trip or don't catch it over nite, you going to have fish/ coral loss.
+Dan Cast Yup, very true. I have most of my equipment plugged into individual gfci plugs so hopefully it would limit that possibility.
Damn really deep stuff... About to do some reading on it also.... Did you just use the internet or books?
Hey um, I am doing saltwater project and my multi meter measures voltage of 0.725 and as I add more salt the voltage decreases but then after a while it increases slowly, please tell me what am I doing wrong...
+kausar tasleem Not sure you're doing anything wrong. Most systems will have some sort of reading. Have you tried unplugging each piece of equipment one at a time to see if anything you're running is leaking voltage?
Also the titanium ground thing is bull. Be sure to ground your equipment but throwing something into the tank is just a waste of money.
Voltage itself is not dangerous. Nor electric fences are up to 10k volts. Sure it hurt like hell if you touch it or pee on it.. But not even close to being lethal. it is all about the current. Which also is why a GFCi measures current and not voltage.
Hope this was helpful.. also love your videos.. :)
Great video! So what is an acceptable range to be in?
I think this is a matter of opinion, but I go off of anything over 50V is too much. Thank you for the comment too!!!
yeah im actually gonna change the outlet .. and get a gfci power strip as well
Nice!
I have everything going through gfci and still got zapped 220v due to skimmer pump (AU voltage 240v) it did not trip the circuit i still have up to 30v stray thinking of running titanium probe?
Kenneth Cunningham Zoinks! Have you tried to figure out where the voltage is coming from. Unplugging equipment one by one to see if you can find the leak?
Yeah I'll make one tomorrow night
Stray voltage has been associated with lateral line errosion.
Normally one should put a ground probe right near every device or equipment that is submerged in water. The idea is that one probe will cause long travelling currents through the tank which will not be to the very like of beings inside it. So, every equipment should be "groundly" grounded...
Lucian Blaga Thanks Lucian for the post! Very informative!
If you have an RCD fitted at your consumer unit for the circuit the tank is on. Any earth leakage will trip it allday long
Sorry, over my head, lol.
it has to be an active military id or service connected or it will be denied except for Veterans day or forth of July. any store accepting it any other way is going against both companies policies on the discount.
yeah my build has been postponed a little. I just moved into my new house and of course the painters are taking longer then originally anticipated ... and I had problems with my furnish in the new house so I had to break down my 60 so ill be starting from scratch ... atleast I have more then enough time to get a stock pile of water ... lol
Bummer! No you have time to plan things out... go nice and slow :)
well its looking like tomorrow night ill be starting to start still waiting for my live rock rubble to come in the mail but other then that im ready ....
Sweet man, you going to post videos?
hey gill how many amp you think the gfci should be ..??
I'm not positive, but I think 15 AMP is the industry standard. Are you going with a strip of GFCI plugs like shown in this video?
Would it be safe to plug in a 5 outlet into 1 gfci?
No idea, I'm not an electrician or knowledgeable enough to give advice on this. Sorry.
Just checked mine and had 5 volts AC from water to ground, GFI will only kill circuit if there is stray and if you have bunch of pumps and skimmers I think possible they are all contributing to voltage. So I just took some 12 gauge copper wire and hooked one end to ground (or copper water pipe be good) and other end stuck it in my sump. All voltage is gone! 0.0
+reefseeker Nice! I would have never thought to do something like that.
+ReeferGil haha once in a while I get something right, My son has 2 tanks one had 25Volts AC and the other 40 volts, but on the 40 one he has conventional Fluorescent lights, maybe that causes some, but did this wire thing and both are now zero. Fish send an email this morning thanking me. LOL
+reefseeker LOL, my stupid fish don't do email yet. Everyone else's fish seem to be cruising facebook and posting. Seriously, cleaver way of getting rid of the stray voltage.
Isn't it bad to have copper in the tank though? I remember reading something about copper based medicines a while back. Seems like a hell of an idea though
that tiny bit will not hurt anything. I have had mine in there for over a year, maybe 2... everything is healthy. My son has it in his for at least a year
We have one in the sump.. That's the only place that electrical components lie in the system..
Hey, they are called RCD's
Dug up long ago thread. Know how to check your OUTLET..
First in us of course set your meter on v ac 250 or closed to your house hold power. US IS 120 . Most meters you will use 250.
Second Test the Outlet... Cross small slot and wide slot on outlet with small slot being load side.
3rd Test Ground on outlet. Test small slot to Ground plug. (the 3rd hole ) You should get same voltage as crossing the above.
4th Test wide slot (common pole.) to ground plug (again the 3rd hole )Round hole. YOU SHOULD GET 0 OR .01 ON digital meter.
5th test both 3 and 4 above to the screw or other metal on the outlet itself. should be 0 or 0.1 ON A Digital meter..
Not doing the above before you actually test the Aquarium Can give you FALSE Sense of security. Especially if you do NOT HAVE A GFCI WITH Ground Fault indicator light.. I AM Not a Electrician But have worked around it all my life .Also if You are like me and have a sump in basement. Standing on Concrete floor and putting hands in the tank will Almost Always Shock you. But it will be more like what you feel in a cut with the Salt water.. Sorry to invade this Older thread. I just seen it today looking for a How to Test my Meter guide...
Your Very Welcome. I was Surprised the Electrician who posted Did not point this out. Guess he Did not really thing about it.As i am sure he knows the Procedure.
you wasted a lot of money, you could just replace your outlet with a GFCI, $25, and plug everything into it,that!
GFCI are easy to install
I wanted to avoid spreading several pieces of equipment onto two GFI plugs. If the GFCI plug "popped" then it would shutdown several pieces of equipment at the same time. The way I did it, only the piece of equipment that caused the "pop" would turn off and would not affect the other vital pieces of equipment because each plug has its own individual GFCI. I hope that makes sense.
True, but i needed several outlets. So the strip was perfect for me.