00W's AIO Smorgasbord

[tharbin]

Now I’m getting different views on that is when you working or on vacation you have no way to turn it back on if it trips . But I do like to live ? Is there anything else I can use ? Would the grounding rod work as good ?

If you are talking about the GFCI, which I would never run a tank without, there are two kinds: non-resetting and self-resetting. Non-resetting is by far the most common as it is used any time someone is doing construction work.

The non-resetting units are almost always yellow but can be other colors. A non-resetting unit is not good for use on aquariums because if the power shuts off, like from a power failure, the unit does not turn back on by itself when power is restored. If you think about it, on a construction site you don't want a saw suddenly turning back on.

The self-resetting units are good for an aquarium because they do reset when the power comes back on, power washers are a common user of self-resetting GFCIs. They can be any color but black or yellow are most common.

Neither unit will automatically reset from a ground fault (circuit trip) that would be a very bad idea.

A grounding probe is just a rod, usually titanium, that is connected to a ground circuit, most commonly at the wall outlet. It is designed to be the least resistant path to ground for stray voltages. It will prevent you from getting shocks from your tank but it does not replace a GFCI which is your first and best line of defense.

Ideally you have both on your tank. It is cheap insurance.

 

[CoralB]

If you are talking about the GFCI, which I would never run a tank without, there are two kinds: non-resetting and self-resetting. Non-resetting is by far the most common as it is used any time someone is doing construction work.

The non-resetting units are almost always yellow but can be other colors. A non-resetting unit is not good for use on aquariums because if the power shuts off, like from a power failure, the unit does not turn back on by itself when power is restored. If you think about it, on a construction site you don't want a saw suddenly turning back on.

The self-resetting units are good for an aquarium because they do reset when the power comes back on, power washers are a common user of self-resetting GFCIs. They can be any color but black or yellow are most common.

Neither unit will automatically reset from a ground fault (circuit trip) that would be a very bad idea.

A grounding probe is just a rod, usually titanium, that is connected to a ground circuit, most commonly at the wall outlet. It is designed to be the least resistant path to ground for stray voltages. It will prevent you from getting shocks from your tank but it does not replace a GFCI which is your first and best line of defense.

Ideally you have both on your tank. It is cheap insurance.

So is this something you have to add or if your in a newer house should have in it

 

[kingranch2003]

Spend more times and you will find many more glass heater failures than 'quality' titanium heaters. I can almost guarantee that most of the inexpensive titanium heaters are junk, just like the inexpensive plastic, ceramic, and glass heaters. Heaters are too failure-prone to go cheap. Buy good name-brand heaters and it doesn't matter what the external covering is. One of these days I will try one of the 'unbreakable' glass heaters but until then I avoid glass only because breaking one is not difficult and usually catastrophic.

Mine was finnex, definitely not inexpensive lol, and so were a lot of the ones mentioned on R2R. I think @NanoSteam recently had an issue with a hygge titanium heater. Sure I could find failures with every type of heater, pump, light etc. But with probably 50+ glass heaters that never gave me a single issue vs a "nicer titanium heater" shocking my butt like a deathrow inmate, im going by that. At some point you just have to look at your own experiences and let them outweigh everything else.

 

[kingranch2003]

I will . I have a finnex and now I’m concerned

If you haven't had a problem yet, you're probably ok. Im sure I could've done something to help with the shocking heater. That ended up being dropping it in the dumpster.

 

[kingranch2003]

Don't be. Finnex are very good. ANY electric devices placed in saltwater are a concern, that is why you use a GFCI outlet and a grounding probe.

Had those in place. I wonder what happened in my situation? Im still trying to figure it out.

 

[CoralB]

Had those in place. I wonder what happened in my situation? Im still trying to figure it out.

What type of GFCI unit do you have John ?

 

[kingranch2003]

What type of GFCI unit do you have John ?

Resetting like Tom mentioned. I had to install the outlet, because the one where I put my tank didn't have one.

 

[kingranch2003]

@CoralB Id save everything Tom is telling you, because he's spot on with it in my humble opinion.

 

[tharbin]

So is this something you have to add or if your in a newer house should have in it

All newer houses have them in 'wet' areas (bathrooms, kitchens) and outdoors. They can be added, or to replace existing outlets, by an electrician anywhere. I just use an inline one (short cord with a self-resetting GFCI) on my smaller tanks and I retrofitted a self-resetting GFCI plug (meant for a power washer) on my larger tank.

Here is the one I use to retrofit an aquarium:

and here is the one I use if I'm just adding one in line or before I wire on the dedicated unit:

 

[tharbin]

@CoralB Id save everything Tom is telling you, because he's spot on with it in my humble opinion.

 

[tharbin]

Had those in place. I wonder what happened in my situation? Im still trying to figure it out.

Did the GFCI trip when you put your hand in the tank?

 

[kingranch2003]

Did the GFCI trip when you put your hand in the tank?

Only once, when I used the net. At first I was convinced that I just had a cut on my hand or something that was causing the sensation, until I tried dipping them in my wife's tank or other sources of water to see. I'd never had this happen before so I almost didnt recognize it at the time, until I put the net in and it was unmistakable.

 

[tharbin]

I'll emphasize one point. I would not self-install an in-wall GFCI outlet myself without at least the advice of an electrician. It is not quite the same as just swapping an outlet. You have to know your hot from your neutral, be sure you have a dedicated ground and you need to be aware of what other outlets/devices are on the same circuit. You also need to make sure every outlet on that circuit is wired correctly. Personally I double check the outlet with an inexpensive outlet tester to be sure it is correctly wired and then I use an external GFCI so the only part of the circuit I'm protecting is the tank.

 

[tharbin]

Only once, when I used the net. At first I was convinced that I just had a cut on my hand or something that was causing the sensation, until I tried dipping them in my wife's tank or other sources of water to see. I'd never had this happen before so I almost didnt recognize it at the time, until I put the net in and it was unmistakable.

So it was leakage current. That is a potential issue with a titanium unit, although it is usually like that from the start (manufacturing defect). I've also had that with pumps although with them it is more likely to occur with age.

 

[kevgib67]

Morning all. Hit the gym for some yoga first thing. New instructor filled in. She just got certified and was nervous.

Then went to Petco to grab a Royal Gramma before being released in their tank. Popped it into a quarantine tank.

Off to lunch.

Good morning Shelley!

 

[kevgib67]

Nope! This is the one you want CB

5-Tray Beef Jerky Machine

Make your own beef, chicken, turkey or pork jerky all with a machine big enough to handle a hearty appetite. The Ronco Beef Jerky Machine gives you the satisfaction of preparing healthy jerky in the comfort and convenience of your home. Built with high-grade materials to ensure a long-lasting...

www.ronco.com

 

[kevgib67]

Hi!

Howdy Diana!

 

[CoralB]

I'll emphasize one point. I would not self-install an in-wall GFCI outlet myself without at least the advice of an electrician. It is not quite the same as just swapping an outlet. You have to know your hot from your neutral, be sure you have a dedicated ground and you need to be aware of what other outlets/devices are on the same circuit. You also need to make sure every outlet on that circuit is wired correctly. Personally I double check the outlet with an inexpensive outlet tester to be sure it is correctly wired and then I use an external GFCI so the only part of the circuit I'm protecting is the tank.

Pretty sure I knew where the plug was going to go and had it installed where the tank was going when I the house was built .

 

[kingranch2003]

I'll emphasize one point. I would not self-install an in-wall GFCI outlet myself without at least the advice of an electrician. It is not quite the same as just swapping an outlet. You have to know your hot from your neutral, be sure you have a dedicated ground and you need to be aware of what other outlets/devices are on the same circuit. You also need to make sure every outlet on that circuit is wired correctly. Personally I double check the outlet with an inexpensive outlet tester to be sure it is correctly wired and then I use an external GFCI so the only part of the circuit I'm protecting is the tank.

I wish I had gone with an external model. I will be on the bew build for sure. Thanks for this.

 

[CoralB]

I'll emphasize one point. I would not self-install an in-wall GFCI outlet myself without at least the advice of an electrician. It is not quite the same as just swapping an outlet. You have to know your hot from your neutral, be sure you have a dedicated ground and you need to be aware of what other outlets/devices are on the same circuit. You also need to make sure every outlet on that circuit is wired correctly. Personally I double check the outlet with an inexpensive outlet tester to be sure it is correctly wired and then I use an external GFCI so the only part of the circuit I'm protecting is the tank.

I notice they have a lifetime warranty !
Is it your lifetime ??? Or theirs ?