Electric shock in fish tank

[edwincis]

Guys does anyone out there have the same experience as me? Sometimes when I put my hand inside my fish tank I felt a slight electric shock, is it the static or there is really electricty escaping from one of my pump can anyone enlighten me. Thanks

[ervine]

Most likely one of your pumps.. isolate them one by one and test.. (er perf with a test pen or something, not your hand!)

[sinner]

it's the pump dude... you try using a testpen dip into water with the pump on and off... it's especially so if you have some minor wounds or cut on your hand

[Fishy Clown]

Hmm.... I think an equipment you are using is faulty. Theres a thread related on this last time. Anyone can direct him?

[Fishy Clown]

Switch off the power, put on slippers and rubber gloves for protection

[edwincis]

Guys, could it be static? I have tested the water with the equipment off at each time, till all equipment are off, i still feel electricity current passing in the water. (though it is quite slight).

The funny thing is, when you put your hand thoroughly in the water for 1-2 sec, you stop feeling the e.current. Funny. Anybody can enlighten me on this?

[sinner]

1-2secs when all equipment are off? or on?

anyway i reckon it's off, the "remains of electricity" in tank have probably used u and escape into earth...

[edwincis]

Hmn I c maybe it is really my equipment. Think I will check it out..

[edwincis]

Well, if itz really one of my equipment that has electricitiy leakage, would it endanger my LS? I have this flame scallop which emits electric like lights... wonder whether is it the flame scallop which causes this e. shock...

[martin]

Hi Edwincis !

Minor electrical "shorting" is likely to be cause by elcrtical earth leakage. As suggested by fellow hobbist, please perform isolation test on all your electrical appliances connected to your fish tank.

1. After you isolated the "suspected culprit", please use a PSB approved 3-pin plug with 13A fuse.

2. If you "suspected cuplrit" is using a "ROUNDED SHAPE" 2-pin plug with a vertical metal strip....CHANGE it to the abovementioned. The leakage current problem should resolved.

3. Otherwise, please stop using the "suspected culprit" for safety sake.

P/S : LFS inside the fish tank will be safe....as electrical leakage current should be mild and the fishes inside the tank are not grounded....otherwise you will not be here asking..he..he..Take care Bro!

[terryansimon]

I thought even a PSB approved 3 pin plug is useless if the original wiring does not contain the earthing wire or something like that.

I may have phrased it wrongly so don't blame me. complete electrical idiot here.

[Glare]

stray voltage is present in most tanks due to the submersible electrical items like pumps, etc. There are arguments for and against stray voltage affecting livestock, and whether it contributes to head and lateral line disease in fishes. If you are worried, you can always DIY or purchase a ground probe to fix this problem.

The ground probe is simply a titanium rod usually, connected to a wire and then wired to the earth pin of a regular 3 pin plug, then plugged into a socket. This effectively grounds your tank and will stop the shock that you receive when you insert your hand into the tank.

[martin]

Basically you're correct to say if the plug comes with "Live" and Neutral" wires as in normal FLAT two-pin plug. There is not much use to change to a 3-pin plus with earth points and 13A fuse.

However, if someone bought a foreign made (especially China made electrical appliances), they like to use those ROUND 2-pin with a vertal metal strip for earthing purposes. Unfortunately, our local socket design is not suitable for abovementioned China plug design. P/S : Rounded 2-Pin plugs with metal strip design usually comes with 3 wires (L,N & E).

Therefore, we must immediately change it to a proper PSB approved 3-Pin plug for proper electrical earthing. Hope this will be helpful.

[edwincis]

Where can I get a ground probe???

[terryansimon]

saw it on sale at Paradiz Reef.

[edwincis]

Any idea how much is it???

[terryansimon]

supposedly $30 from what I hear in the forums. may have heard wrongly. not too sure myself. sorry.

[Just me]

and i thought i was the only one having the problem. bro pls let me know if anyone of you manage to purchase one of these ground probe...... I will check out Paradiz Reef and keep you updated as well.

[giantbicycle]

Hi .. i thought i have the only problem too.. Dont know some of the reefers out there also got this problem. i suspect is my pump pumping to the weipro skimmer .when i off the pump and use a test pen there is no light but when i one it the light on the test pen is very bright . Please help.dont know what should i do ..ADvice pls..

[edwincis]

Guys those who have shortlisted the faulty equipment I guess you have to pull it out of commisision for your own safety aspect. I will try to look around for the grounding probe will update you guys after I found it.

[Glare]

Paradiz Reef sells grounding probes for about $30. Bought mine from there.

[Just me]

went there during lunch.......not open yet.

[flubberina13]

Got mine there too. Solved all my 'shocking' problems...

otherwise it's like 'everyday a shock' kind...

Best thing is that the probe is made of titanium so no rust....

Although there's a DIY guru here who managed to make his out of titanium spokes...cool job he has done...

[freewill]

went there during lunch.......not open yet.

PR doesn't open on monday..

[tigershark]

go to any bicycle shop and buy a titanium spoke, connect the spoke to a wire connector and on the other end of the wire connector, connect a wire and then connect the other end of the wire to the earth of a 3 pin plug. seal up all connection with silicon to prevent salt water from corroding the wire (copper) the total cost of the whole setup would be ard;

1) titanium spoke- $9 (can cut into 2 and share with others)

2) wire connector- $1 (10pcs, and you need only 1 pc)

3) normal wire- $0.20~$0.50 (depends on lenght)

4) 3 pin plug- $1.20 (with PSB approval)

whole setup should be less than $13 for 2 unit ground probe.