Serious dangers of salt water tanks and any tank

[1eyedjyde]

I have had my gfci outlet trip when a powerhead in my sump cracked its case. I have two power bars plugged into two different gfci outlets just in case this happens only half my equipment gets shut off. I do agree you should check all equipment on a regular basis. I only have my lights on non gfci outlets as the electronic ballast for the mh trips every time.

[quote=Dearth;763880Ever since then I check all wires and equipment regularly. GFIs and power bars are good investments however a GFI will only help if it detects current coming from one item so plugging a GFI into a power bar does you no good you have to use a GFI for each piece of equipment you plug in however that being said I have seen GFI power bars but know little about them aside from that they are flipping expensive[/QUOTE]

[burgerchow]

Ok, I'm no electronics guy, but if there was a short in the tank and the water is "live"' wouldn't the fish be dead first, before you get shocked?

[Aquattro]

Originally Posted by burgerchow

Ok, I'm no electronics guy, but if there was a short in the tank and the water is "live"' wouldn't the fish be dead first, before you get shocked?

I don't know squat about it either, but I do know the fish just swam around laughing at me every time I've zapped myself

[outacontrol]

Originally Posted by burgerchow

Ok, I'm no electronics guy, but if there was a short in the tank and the water is "live"' wouldn't the fish be dead first, before you get shocked?

No it does not kill the fish unless they reach out and touch the ground.

[1eyedjyde]

I'm not 100% but I think it's because the fish are not grounded however they are irritated by excess current in the tank.

[outacontrol]

Originally Posted by 1eyedjyde

I'm not 100% but I think it's because the fish are not grounded however they are irritated by excess current in the tank.

There is no current in the tank until the human does something stupid, like putting his hand in the tank or any other "grounded" device such as a ground probe!

[1eyedjyde]

The current in the tank comes from a faulty device such as a shorted powerhead it grounds on itself until the stupid human stick his hand in the tank to grab the powerhead without unplugging it first.

Originally Posted by outacontrol

There is no current in the tank until the human does something stupid, like putting his hand in the tank or any other "grounded" device such as a ground probe!

[outacontrol]

Originally Posted by 1eyedjyde

The current in the tank comes from a faulty device such as a shorted powerhead it grounds on itself until the stupid human stick his hand in the tank to grab the powerhead without unplugging it first.

Ok where to start...... If the power head was truely shorted, the current would have exceeded the rating of the over current device, usually being the circuit breaker, therefore the breaker would trip and there could be no current.
Current can not flow or exist unless it has a path to flow on, therefore current cannot be waiting in the tank. Current is the result of voltage on electric circuit.

Please refrain from giving advise to others on a public forum on topics that you have limited understanding and knowledge on.

[kien]

[Canuckgod420]

Originally Posted by burgerchow

Ok, I'm no electronics guy, but if there was a short in the tank and the water is "live"' wouldn't the fish be dead first, before you get shocked?

That clearly wouldnt happen, the fish arent grounded. Its like birds landing on power wires, no death, but if they where to contact 2 wires at the same time....poof, cooked bird.