Acceptable Levels of Stray Voltage

Atomikk

Rare Coral Master
View Badges
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
168
Reaction score
2
Location
Toronto, CANADA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Hey everyone,

By now we have all felt a jolt or two from touching our tank's water while having bare feet. This is due to stray voltage leaking out of pump's housing, or at least that is what I am lead to believe.

The bigger question is, what are acceptable levels of this stray voltage? Or if no one can answer this, what are your readings using the multimeter? This way we can on average determine what levels are ok.

This should be interesting!
 

gparr

Waterbox Keeper
View Badges
Joined
Aug 3, 2008
Messages
2,137
Reaction score
19
Location
NW Chicago Suburbs
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I've never used a multimeter, but if I felt any level of stray voltage when touching the water, I would immediately isolate the problem and get rid of it. Those things don't generally heal themselves.
Gary
 

jaytizzle

Fish Pro
View Badges
Joined
Aug 13, 2009
Messages
657
Reaction score
16
Location
Baton Rouge, LA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I have never gotten a shock or jolt from my tank. If you do, I would say that is beyond an acceptable level and you should address the problem immediately.
 
OP
OP
Atomikk

Atomikk

Rare Coral Master
View Badges
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
168
Reaction score
2
Location
Toronto, CANADA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok. Have you all measured your tanks with a multimeter? Just curious as to what readings you all would have.
 

MikeB

R2R Web Admin & Moderator
View Badges
Joined
Dec 16, 2008
Messages
2,547
Reaction score
16
Location
Central Florida
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Ok. Have you all measured your tanks with a multimeter? Just curious as to what readings you all would have.
No Reading when I tested. I had to test one time because of a Koralia going bad in the Fuge. I got a slight shock so I tested it. After removing the power head, no stray voltage was detected.Stray voltage will create stress on fish for sure. I am not sure about corals.
 
OP
OP
Atomikk

Atomikk

Rare Coral Master
View Badges
Joined
Oct 26, 2006
Messages
168
Reaction score
2
Location
Toronto, CANADA
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
It definitely has a negative effect on corals. This is why we should all test the water. RBursek, did it test at zero?
 

spspirate

Tidepool Explorer
View Badges
Joined
Dec 25, 2009
Messages
9,555
Reaction score
2,278
Location
Richmond, Va
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
I found .2 volts AC and .6 volts DC current......? Normal? Not Normal?
 

When to mix up fish meal: When was the last time you tried a different brand of food for your reef?

  • I regularly change the food that I feed to the tank.

    Votes: 23 29.1%
  • I occasionally change the food that I feed to the tank.

    Votes: 30 38.0%
  • I rarely change the food that I feed to the tank.

    Votes: 20 25.3%
  • I never change the food that I feed to the tank.

    Votes: 5 6.3%
  • Other.

    Votes: 1 1.3%
Back
Top