Serious dangers of salt water tanks and any tank

burgerchow · #1 11-14-2012, 04:38 AM

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 · #2 11-14-2012, 04:40 AM

Quote:

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 · #3 11-14-2012, 04:45 AM

Quote:

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 · #4 11-14-2012, 04:47 AM

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 · #5 11-14-2012, 04:53 AM

Quote:

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 · #6 11-14-2012, 05:09 AM

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.

Quote:

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 · #7 11-14-2012, 05:20 AM

Quote:

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 · #8 11-14-2012, 05:36 AM

reefermadness · #9 11-14-2012, 01:27 PM

I was about to start correcting people but outtacontrol is doing a good job.

Just recently I had a MJ powerhead short.....the cord had cracked under the water (saltwater hardens the soft insulation of cords and the vibration of the powerhead can cause cracks). When I stuck my hand in the tank I got a nice zap but the gfi tripped......safety device indeed. The reason it did not trip till I stuck my hand in is I dont have a grounding probe so there was no good path to ground for the current to flow.

Canuckgod420 · #10 11-15-2012, 02:43 PM

Quote:

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.