URGENT PLEASE HELP ! Shock everytime I put my hand in the tank

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

If you own or have access to a multimeter, set it to Volts AC, put the positive in the water and the negative in an outlet ground. Ideally you want to see nearly 0 volts

Is your wife touching anything around the tank when she gets shocked ? Such as the light fixture ?

dont even know where to get a multimeter.?

She is putting her hand directly in

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by mtlreeffreak

dont even know where to get a multimeter.?

Something like this, from any tool or hardware store
Sometimes you can get them on sale for as little as $10
Analog will work fine, but the digital ones are easier to read and most are autoranging which makes them easier to use
Don't forget to buy batteries for it

If you plan on testing it in an outlet, read the instructions well before you use it for the first time, so you don't cook it or yourself

Originally Posted by mtlreeffreak

She is putting her hand directly in

So your wife is not touching anything near the tank, just the water ?
Is she wearing shoes, or barefoot ?

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Something like this, from any tool or hardware store
Sometimes you can get them on sale for as little as $10
Analog will work fine, but the digital ones are easier to read and most are autoranging which makes them easier to use
Don't forget to buy batteries for it

If you plan on testing it in an outlet, read the instructions well before you use it for the first time, so you don't cook it or yourself


So your wife is not touching anything near the tank, just the water ?
Is she wearing shoes, or barefoot ?

thanks.. hopefully i wont lose anything till tomorrow the stores re closed now

shes wearing socks..

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by mtlreeffreak

shes wearing socks..

Do you get shocked if you do exactly the same thing she does ?
I'm not asking you to intentionally hurt yourself, but are you both in socks, both not touching the light, etc etc
Some people are more sensitive to electricity than others, but either way, get a meter

Once you are comfortable using it, test the tank. If you see anything except nearly 0, start unplugging anything touching the water until the voltage drops and there's your voltage leak/damaged hardware

Also, sometimes lights can cause a bit of static charging of the water, so if all else tests 0, unplug the light to rule it out

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Do you get shocked if you do exactly the same thing she does ?
I'm not asking you to intentionally hurt yourself, but are you both in socks, both not touching the light, etc etc
Some people are more sensitive to electricity than others, but either way, get a meter

Once you are comfortable using it, test the tank. If you see anything except nearly 0, start unplugging anything touching the water until the voltage drops and there's your voltage leak/damaged hardware

Also, sometimes lights can cause a bit of static charging of the water, so if all else tests 0, unplug the light to rule it out

it only happens once in a while its not constant.. were both in socks..
im gonna get a meter tomorrow am

thanks.. hopefully it wont kill anything in the tank

[Reef_Geek]

I've been shocked a few times. Work long enough with aquariums, it's a matter of time before you realize why all the fuss about being careful around water and electricity.

Culprits have been...
1) most commonly, broken heater tubes
2) seals eventually broken on submersible pumps
3) salt creep or a bit of salt water bridging electrical contact points, such as on light bulbs or along your cords to the plug, to the rest of the system

Lessons learned
1) don't forget to unplug your heaters when draining
2) make sure you install a drip loop. if you don't know what this is... look it up
3) keep salt creep away from electrical contact points, ie don't rest your light on the tank and clean up the splashing
4) ideally, ground your system.

In your mystery of selective shocking... I've found that a weak current can be felt more readily where the skin is thinner... such as where I've chewed my finger nail cuticles or through a cut. (yup). Also, electricity will flow through your body, so if you're bare foot vs not, makes difference... as well as touching another contact point as gregzz4 pointed out... something else metal.

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by Reef_Geek

I've been shocked a few times. Work long enough with aquariums, it's a matter of time before you realize why all the fuss about being careful around water and electricity.

Culprits have been...
1) most commonly, broken heater tubes
2) seals eventually broken on submersible pumps
3) salt creep or a bit of salt water bridging electrical contact points, such as on light bulbs or along your cords to the plug, to the rest of the system

Lessons learned
1) don't forget to unplug your heaters when draining
2) make sure you install a drip loop. if you don't know what this is... look it up
3) keep salt creep away from electrical contact points, ie don't rest your light on the tank and clean up the splashing
4) ideally, ground your system.

In your mystery of selective shocking... I've found that a weak current can be felt more readily where the skin is thinner... such as where I've chewed my finger nail cuticles or through a cut. (yup). Also, electricity will flow through your body, so if you're bare foot vs not, makes difference... as well as touching another contact point as gregzz4 pointed out... something else metal.

hmmm my Sump does have alot of salt build up around the edges now that you mention it..

[gregzz4]

Getting shocked only sometimes could mean the faulty hardware is something that only runs sometimes, such as a heater


Something else I wanted to touch on, but after the multimeter stuff ...

You have a ground probe and are getting shocked.
Does this mean you don't have a GFCI ?

Using a probe without one is much more dangerous than not using a probe at all. You are allowing the water to become fully energized (completed circuit) from a voltage leak but doing nothing to protect yourself

If you are using a GFCI, test it

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Getting shocked only sometimes could mean the faulty hardware is something that only runs sometimes, such as a heater


Something else I wanted to touch on, but after the multimeter stuff ...

You have a ground probe and are getting shocked.
Does this mean you don't have a GFCI ?

Using a probe without one is much more dangerous than not using a probe at all. You are allowing the water to become fully energized (completed circuit) from a voltage leak but doing nothing to protect yourself

If you are using a GFCI, test it

no GFCI here..

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by mtlreeffreak

no GFCI here..

Umm, that's a pretty dangerous situation
Let's just say it's a good thing you only got shocked
For the sake of your critters, I'd suggest you unplug the ground probe for now and DON'T TOUCH the water
This will cut down on the amount of current in the tank and give them a break
DO NOT touch the water without the probe in place as you will become the ground

Maybe spend tonight reading up on aquariums with GFCIs and ground probes

1 - Plug the probe back in when you have the meter ready to go
2 - Find the hardware issue and fix it
3 - Install a GFCI, or a bunch of individual ones for each 'wet' hardware piece