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Thank you for the very informative read, every tank I have set up so far I've installed a GFCI and no doubt because of a reminder like this thread. For me, living in an apartment, I have more than my own safety to be concerned with and I think that the risk of fire is the greatest concern.
My question: Is there a premium GFCI on the market that would be less prone to false trips?
Most receptacles trip at 4 - 6 milli-amps. Hospital grade trip at 5 ma, a more accurate GFCIThere are hospital grade GFCIs but I do not think the circuitry is different just a better plug retention method.
Why do you feel a grounding probe would be more dangerous to your fish and coral if a short happens than the copper being released into the tank during that short?Grounding probe will kill your fish and coral when a short happens.
This is not logical. GFI only trip if the equipment is faulty, which is really dangerous for the Reefers, the family, the house and the fish.I'll never use a GFI or grounding probe. GFIs always trip. Grounding probe will kill your fish and coral when a short happens. Just make sure the outlet doesn't get splashed on.
Most receptacles trip at 4 - 6 milli-amps. Hospital grade trip at 5 ma, a more accurate GFCI
I don't know what you mean by copper being released into the tank, I'd feel the stray voltage way before any copper would corrode in the tank. As far as a grounding probe goes; Its similar to birds on a power line. They aren't grounded so they don't get shocked. If they touch both lines then zap current goes through and they're dead.Why do you feel a grounding probe would be more dangerous to your fish and coral if a short happens than the copper being released into the tank during that short?
GFIs will trip for no reason at all, moisture in the air can cause a GFI to trip (which is kind of the purpose I guess). I just don't want to be out of town for a few days and my pump goes out for no reason at all. If I'm not messing with the tank there should be no reason why the outlets are in contact with water. I know if saltwater is splashed on an outlet it will smoke, but I don't see how this would happen unless you are there working on the tank. In that case I don't need a GFI to tell me I got some issues, my eyes will take care of that.This is not logical. GFI only trip if the equipment is faulty, which is really dangerous for the Reefers, the family, the house and the fish.
Even if it is my main pump I rather have no electricity to a cracked main pump than getting electrocuted or all the fishes and animals killed by copper release into the tank due to the cracked pump.
If you have a fault voltage then you have exposed copper from the electrical wiring touching the water. This copper will break down much faster with voltage present and release more copper ions into the water than if it were de-energized. This is one major reason I prefer to run with a GFCI and ground probe. I want any faulted equipment tripped ASAP to minimize copper leaching, along with other possible contaminants.I don't know what you mean by copper being released into the tank.
Unfortunately, this line of thinking doesn't work in a reef tank. The birds live in air, which is an insulator. Marine fish live in salt water, which is a conductor. The fish have a much higher resistance than the water they live in so most of the current will flow around them, not through them. However, when used with a GFCI, any current flow over 5mA should be stopped when it trips.Its similar to birds on a power line. They aren't grounded so they don't get shocked. If they touch both lines then zap current goes through the and they're dead.
I think all of the GFCI's you can get at Lowe's or Home Depot are fine. I wouldn't risk an off brand from Amazon. As for grounding probes, they are so simple that any probe will do as long as it is titanium.I'll be setting up my tank soon, is there a specific GFCI and grounding probe that you recommend? My apologies if I overlooked it in the prior pages.
I'll be setting up my tank soon, is there a specific GFCI and grounding probe that you recommend? My apologies if I overlooked it in the prior pages.
Changing out a regular outlet to GFCI is fairly easy. No opening up of the walls required.Assuming I don't have any other large power demands on the circuit, is going the GFCI breaker route the best bet to protect the tank's nearby receptacles since they aren't currently GFCI, or is that less effective from a human safety standpoint?
Otherwise I imagine I'd need to open up some walls and do some wiring to retrofit each of the receptacles.
Return pump is one of the components known for causing stray voltage and I make it a priority to be plugged into a gfci
I have everything on GFIC outlets. That said my tank has gone over 4 hours without any return pump running thanks to the rolling blackouts we had last year in February. I do have my MP10's on a Ecotech batter backup though.