Who has a grounding probe in their tank?

[spanky]

Is it your sump or main tank and is it a good idea to have one?

[Mrfish55]

I have one in the sump, don't know if it makes a difference but I can say I get no tinglies when I have my hands in the tank :lol:

[Snappy]

I have one in the display herbie overflow and one in my frag tank. I highly recommend it.

[untamed]

I have one.

[spanky]

Thanks for the input , i honestly didnt even know of such a thing, i will definatly get one. I was just thinking today with all the cords running into the tank and sump there must be something a guy can do.

[digital-audiophile]

I've one in my sump as well. I was mildly electrocuted twice before I figured it out and bought one.

[Johnny Reefer]

Sump.

[loveless]

Where do you get said grounding probe. And also how is it used. I understand that it is used for stray voltage, but how is it applied/hooked up???

[bullit67]

I had one in my old sump befor I got my sump room up and running I went to unplug it from the outlet and it is fused to the outlet I have too figure out why befor I get a new one

[MikeP]

Where do you get said grounding probe. And also how is it used. I understand that it is used for stray voltage, but how is it applied/hooked up???

I'm wondering this as well. Also is a GFIC still needed if you have a grounding probe?

[tgoeujon]

ive got one in my overflow, but i still get tinglies from time to time. might add another just cause electrocution sucks:biggrin:

[mark]

I'm wondering this as well. Also is a GFIC still needed if you have a grounding probe?

Should have a GFI that way it trips via the ground probe rather then you providing the path.

[Trigger Man]

I have one in my display, bought it at the local fish store.

[Johnny Reefer]

Where do you get said grounding probe. And also how is it used. I understand that it is used for stray voltage, but how is it applied/hooked up???

http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/store_pages/product-info.php?product_ID=mc-gp

http://oceanaquatics.com/store/product/1721/Rid-Volt-Grounding-Probe/

[digital-audiophile]

Easy as pie to hook up. One end is just a plastic probe, like a temp probe, and then plug the other end into an electrical outlet.

[lastlight]

Does it matter whether it's direct into the wall or into a controller's power bar?

[Sushiman]

ah you're not a true reef aquariust until you've been electrocuted by your own tank. :shocked!:Sigh* ah the memories.

[digital-audiophile]

Does it matter whether it's direct into the wall or into a controller's power bar?

I would imagine the controller would be just fine, as long as you set that specific outllet to "always on"

[Doug]

I always run a ground probe and GFI.

If you find my thread where the arc went from my pendant to my forehead, when I had the probe out and was fine with it in, {current leaking from a stream pump}, you will see why, plus some good posts there from electric oriented aquarists.

[0sprey]

I use a GFI instead. Otherwise, you're running the risk of zapping your fish.

[Leah]

I have a question, I have 2 grounding probes and when the electrician was here doing
some work, I asked him about the testing, that is mentioned in the instructions. He had
no idea what it was talking about. So they are still sitting in the closet. Iam also a bit
confused as how they could zap the fish. Do they absorb stray voltage, Iam confused.
Please explain for us dumbies.

[0sprey]

They complete the circuit- so if there is stray voltage, it flows through your tank. You stay safe, because you can't ground the tank yourself anymore, but the current still flows through the water. It's not as dangerous to fish as it is to humans, but it causes their navigation systems to go berserk. Messes around with the sensory pits in the lateral line, if I recollect correctly.
With a GFI, on the other hand, as soon as leaking electricity is detected, it shuts down the circuit. No damage. Of course, then you have to start testing to figure out which piece of equipment is leaking... which could be a PITA. But still better than taking a risk, IMO.

[hillegom]

So if you have a GFI, then you do not need a grounding probe?

[Norstar]

A couple of dumb questions.

1. Should you have a probe in both the sump and the aquarium?
2. Can you not make your own ground probe with a piece of insulated copper or aluminum wire?

[fkshiu]

Never used one. Never needed one. If you've got "stray voltage", then fix the equipment that is causing it. Further, a GFCI will save your life, a ground probe will not.

[Doug]

As I posted, why not use both. I would never run with no GFI, but I do on occasion have something run to another plug for whatever reason. In my particular situation, no probe, arc to my forehead, probe in, no problems.

As for fixing the pump, thats all fine and dandy, once you know its screwed and leaking current.

[heyfredyourhat]

There is a decent size thread about ground probes being very dangerous on RC.

My 2 cents...I have one in my sump, i have a gfi as well. The other nite hands were in the tank and i got a good jolt and then gfi tripped. It was my light, and about a year ago i was shocked by the same light and didnt have a gfi installed. Talk about being electrocuted!! Especially when one arm is all the way to the bottom of a 24" tank!!!

Not sure what the ground probe does, or if its worthwhile, but i know i love my gfi now!!

[Canadian]

The general consensus is that if you run a ground probe you MUST also run a GFCI otherwise you are actually putting yourself at GREATER risk by having a ground probe without a GFCI because nothing will trip to shut down the offending electrical component should it actually be leaking current (to you for example).

Also, the fish don't get zapped. They aren't grounded. The idea that stray current somehow causes HLLE has generally been dismissed as nonsense over the last few years.

Do a search on RC - this has been debated ad nauseum and when people who actually know what they are talking about (I'm certainly not one of them) get involved in the conversation the take home message becomes the same - if you run a grounding probe you must also run a GFCI for your safety.

[digital-audiophile]

That is an intersting point that the fish are not grounded. I never thought about that, I always assumed that if I saw fish floating belly up I would know not to stick my hands in.

I really need to get a GFCI. I need to find someone in Calgary that can do it for me.

[Canadian]

To be fair, I don't know how realistic an inference it is to suggest that because the fish isn't grounded that it wouldn't some how be effected by stray voltage. I've seen it suggested that because the fish aren't grounded they aren't at much risk, but when I think about it intuitively I would assume that if I cut the cables on one of my powerheads and stuck the wires in the tank next to a fish it would presumably show some kind of distress (but as I mentioned above I'm not really qualified to comment on electricity because I'm completely ignorant about its effects beyond what we use therapeutically in physiotherapy).

That is an intersting point that the fish are not grounded. I never thought about that, I always assumed that if I saw fish floating belly up I would know not to stick my hands in.

I really need to get a GFCI. I need to find someone in Calgary that can do it for me.

[Leah]

That is an intersting point that the fish are not grounded. I never thought about that, I always assumed that if I saw fish floating belly up I would know not to stick my hands in.

I really need to get a GFCI. I need to find someone in Calgary that can do it for me.
They, are not that hard to install my dad installed all mine, four of them
just make sure you have turned off the power to it first. Was the first thing
I ever did when I switched to salt. I even have one on my daughter's fresh.
But when I was a kid growing up my dad had 30 freshwater tanks running in
our basement and I don't even thought about it. You will have to turn everthing off that may suck.

[karazy]

you can buy a GFCI outlet like the one in the link below at places like home depot so you dont have to completely change your outlet.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~miscellaneous_tower_shoc k_buster_gfci_adapter_cord_set_inline.html

[digital-audiophile]

you can buy a GFCI outlet like the one in the link below at places like home depot so you dont have to completely change your outlet.

http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_AquariumPage~PageAlias~miscellaneous_tower_shoc k_buster_gfci_adapter_cord_set_inline.html


I've looked for those at both home deopt and rona and the staff in the electrical dept. look at me like I have two heads and show me the ones I need to wire in.

I'm sure I can install the GFCI, it's not that hards, its just I am afraid of electricity. I electrocuted myself really bad as a teenager on an exposed wall socket and have been leary around wires and electricity ever since.

[xiaan]

I've looked for those at both home deopt and rona and the staff in the electrical dept. look at me like I have two heads and show me the ones I need to wire in.


Same thing happened to me at HD but I found one at Princess Auto. They are generally in the Tools section (I also saw a 4 port model at Canadian Tire).

[digital-audiophile]

Same thing happened to me at HD but I found one at Princess Auto. They are generally in the Tools section (I also saw a 4 port model at Canadian Tire).

Sweet! I have a PA just minutes away from my house. Ill check them out for sure!

[karazy]

ive seen them at the home depot right by Elite aquatics.
they were close to the lighting section

[mike31154]

A couple of dumb questions.

1. Should you have a probe in both the sump and the aquarium?
2. Can you not make your own ground probe with a piece of insulated copper or aluminum wire?

1. Depends on your set up. Technically the water flows continuously between the sump and display, so only one should be required if you decide to install one at all. Once water stops flowing, you've opened the 'circuit' so to speak. But that usually happens during a power outage or when you turn off the return pump so no electricity is present.

2. You can make your own, but insulating it with plastic will defeat the purpose. You'll need to get hold of a non corroding metal such as stainless steel or better yet titanium.

[mike31154]

I always run a ground probe and GFI.

If you find my thread where the arc went from my pendant to my forehead, when I had the probe out and was fine with it in, {current leaking from a stream pump}, you will see why, plus some good posts there from electric oriented aquarists.

Curious. Is/are your pendants grounded? I've measured close to 200 volts from my clip-on (ergo isolated) T5 reflectors to the water. Used to get tingles when touching both the reflector and the water. Attached a wire from each reflector to ground and the large induced voltage is no longer present. Although it is a high measured voltage, the current capability is obviously not that much or I would feel more than a tiny tingle. Could be that the arc to your forehead was also caused by a large static charge, walking across carpet in a dry room, then touching a metal object. Voltage needs to equalize, so big snap but generally not that harmful.

[digital-audiophile]

http://a116.g.akamai.net/7/116/8068/infinite/www.canadiantire.ca/media/images/products/images/HouseHome/Electrical/PowerBars/0527268_450_CC_v1_m56577569830874243.jpg

I found the GFCI at Cdn tire. It was $26. Much easier for a guy like me to hook up than rewiring an outlet :p

[mike31154]

I have one of these. Great product, only beef is the spring loaded outlet covers make it tricky to plug in timers etc.

[RnR]

Before u buy one buy a voltage stick put just the tip in your water or on the glass even and see if it lights up if it does you need one if it dosent you dont have a ground problem

[hillegom]

I have one of these. Great product, only beef is the spring loaded outlet covers make it tricky to plug in timers etc.

Mike, just plug a power bar into the GCFI and put your timers on that.

[fkshiu]

Mike, just plug a power bar into the GCFI and put your timers on that.

Be careful about stringing powerbars together. Jamming all your equipment onto a single GFCI is asking for it. Better to distribute the equipment amongst several GFCIs so if one goes, your whole system doesn't. I keep the absolute essential equipment - the pumps/powerheads - on their very own GFCI circuit through a CanTire UPS.

[hillegom]

I see I wrote "timers" I meant just the one Mike could not plug into the can tire GCFI