Beware reefers, of electrocution

[salivateforme]

This morning, I had DIY'ed a fish trap, using a soda bottle. Wanted to test-capture my damsel. To put it underwater, I had to shift my PLs. Slippery hands that I have, the end with the eBallest dipped into the water. The lights shorted, and I got an electric shock. It was mild, fortunately enough, but it truly opened my eyes to the possibility of losing my life if it had been another electrical appliance.

No harm to the LS, as far as I can see, but I don't know if there would be a delayed reaction. Anybody has experience in this? Would LS be harmed by a short stint in electrified water?

I am going to get a Ground Fault Interrupter the first thing I come home from work this evening!

[Archer82]

hey bro welcome to the " Club of Electrical Blunders" !

I've had such experiences due to a leaking powerhead.

I got a mild shock too but interestingly it does not bother the LS.

In fact they were all fine, fishes happily swimming about and corals well opened.

Only I got a shock everytime I put my hands in the water. ( Darn !)

Got the faulty powerhead out eventually but my opinion is this;

A low current in the water does not cause any harm to LS.

If you do suspect however do maintainance standing on a chair ( like I did ! ) and use a testpen to verify for sure if there is a current

Cheers

Archer

[salivateforme]

I've sent the shorted PL to the LFS for repair. My soft corals and fish will be without light for about 1-2 days. Any harm?

[Archer82]

Bro,

from what I have heard,

the fishes shd be alright without light but 3 days w/o light and the corals shd begin deteriorating so get it back asap.

Hope it helps

Cheers

Archer

[akahoshi]

Oh man, eletrocution..

I once was electrocuted - my PL lighting fell into my 2ft tank, in the panic that the saltwater was gonna spoil the light, i stupidly reach for the lighting ... when my hand touched the lighting, my hand just shook by itself and the lighting went off.. My natural reaction was to jerk back my hand.. I was ok after the incident but my hand was numb for a few hours.. surely it was a incident for me to remember

The lighting was ok after i cleaned it of all the water.. No fishes died because i was still cycling that tank when it happened, so there wasn't any fishes.. (I'd guess that any fish in the tank would have died..)

My lesson learnt was that (if possible) off all electrical appliances when maintaining or doing things in the fish tank..

[salivateforme]

Oh man, eletrocution..

I once was electrocuted - my PL lighting fell into my 2ft tank, in the panic that the saltwater was gonna spoil the light, i stupidly reach for the lighting ... when my hand touched the lighting, my hand just shook by itself and the lighting went off.. My natural reaction was to jerk back my hand.. I was ok after the incident but my hand was numb for a few hours.. surely it was a incident for me to remember

The lighting was ok after i cleaned it of all the water.. No fishes died because i was still cycling that tank when it happened, so there wasn't any fishes.. (I'd guess that any fish in the tank would have died..)

My lesson learnt was that (if possible) off all electrical appliances when maintaining or doing things in the fish tank..

Hey, after drying it out, the light still work?

Hmmn, I haven't tried that yet. Maybe mine is still working...

[akahoshi]

I cleaned the lighting thoroughly.. inside and outside.. then when it was all dry, i plugged in and tried, and it worked.. dunno about yours, can try and see lor.

[nivlac]

the fish and coral will be ok as there is no 'earthing' to complete the electrical 'circuit' for the electrical current to travel. Just like the bird standing on the power line.

[Clownfish]

Hey, after drying it out, the light still work?

Hmmn, I haven't tried that yet. Maybe mine is still working...

time to upgrade ur lights

DIY it into T5

or if it confirm cannot work, u can try to replace the ballast n use a 3 pin plug to ensure that handling is safer

[aStRoBo|]

drop my fan into my tank, and sparks came out, imediately the whole fan turn hot, and i threw it away.

[hotlemond]

i always hear about this Ground Fault Interruptor. have not seen one b4. so it is to plug in into a outlet socket or no..., there are alot of wiring to do, like a ECB

[salivateforme]

The GFI can be an independant unit, plugged into a wall socket before the power bar. I saw one retailing at about $30, in a hardware shop. I think its a GFI, though it's called a Leakage Breaker or something. Not too sure. Haven't got it yet.

Lucky thing for me, my LFS loaned me a subsitute set, but one of the tubes seem to have reddish tinge, like a freshwater tube.

Darn, I sure hope there'll not be any ill-effects. BTW, I only keep mushrooms, a toadstool leather, buttons. PL seems sufficient. All seems okay. Do I really need T5?

[Marineman]

Not too sure you need one as most of the new buildings comes with a trip switch, that's why some of you only got mild shocks with the power being cut off. Unlike old buildings where there is no trip switch (the powers goes off if there is a trip, or leak or even a fused bulb), a GFI is highly recommended. Better check with an electrician before hand though.

There was a case in KL recently where the guy was repairing his water heater and got electrocuted, his son saw him lying motionless in the bathroom and called his mother who rushed home. She went to touch his body and she got electrocuted as well, sad case.

[cannondale]

If you do suspect however do maintainance standing on a chair ( like I did ! )

someone told me this method before, but i am not sure.

like u mention, standing on a chair will not get shock when there are any leaking, is that true?

[LaW]

drop my fan into my tank, and sparks came out, imediately the whole fan turn hot, and i threw it away.

mine too, my fan dropped into the tank for like 10 seconds.

theres smoke out from the fan after i take it out.

but no electric shock and nothing happened to my LS