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

[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

can you post the link again.. it just shows a bunch of search results..

Hmm ... it worked the first time
Just do a websearch at your favourite tool/hardware store for a multimeter - I prefer digital ones for this use

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Hmm ... it worked the first time
Just do a websearch at your favourite tool/hardware store for a multimeter - I prefer digital ones for this use

this good?

http://www.canadiantire.ca/AST/brows....jsp?locale=en

[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

[gregzz4]

Originally Posted by mtlreeffreak

this good?

Yup, that'll do well. And you can use it all around the house and your vehicle

[gregzz4]

OH, if you have kids, just leave the probe plugged in

[mtlreeffreak]

Originally Posted by gregzz4

Yup, that'll do well. And you can use it all around the house and your vehicle

thanks for the help!

[gregzz4]

You're welcome
Now go do some reading