Stray Voltage

I've been shocked twice in two different freshwater tanks by heaters. I really don't like using heaters at all now! I try to replace them every couple years to prevent any malfunctions. What's crazy is that I didn't lose fish in either instance, I was just putting my hand in during regular maintenance. That wakes you up!

 

If its electric and is under water you need a grounding probe! I wouldn't run a tank without one.

 

I had that and figured out it was a powerhead. I bought an inexpensive circuit tester and narrowed it down pretty easily.

 

Just what john said....i had issue with pump and now have probe and zero issues!!!

 

I know that grounding probes are debatable. But you did not fix the problem. All you did was cover it up with a free path to the ground instead of the voltage going through you first. The Voltage is still there and should be corrected. Since electricity is always going to take the path of least resistance to the ground i.e. the grounding probe you no longer can feel the voltage in the tank when you put your hand in there....but it's still there. The voltage isn't what’s going to hurt you though, it's the amperage or the amount of power in the water. Voltage is simply the force of the amperage. Think stun guns, their something like 50,000 volts but the amperage is less than .5 A household outlet is only 120 volts but can carry 15-20 amps (enought to kill you in water). A good GFCI outlet is all you need to protect you. No grounding probe needed. Anyway that's my rant on this : - )

 

Jamie, I don't think that anything you said was a rant. It is solid advice. Don't cover up the issue. I am in the "Yes, I have a grounding probe." camp, but you are spot on that if there is a known issue, fix the issue, don't just put in a grounding probe. GFCI will save you. Put one in if you don't have one.

 

GFCI saved me about a year ago. I had a heater get submerged in a QT and when I put my hand in I zapped me good but the outlet kicked in.