Stray Voltage Only Sometimes?

[Wandering Albatross]

Good morning all, I was doing some maintenance in the tank and noticed one finger that has a slight abrasion had a tingling sensation when put in the water, but when my whole hand was submerged there was nothing. This has happened once or twice, months apart, but usually in my sump. Nothing electrical has been added, fish all seem fine. I'm thinking it may be stray voltage. What confuses me is that it only happens sometimes, and everything is always running when it happens or doesn't. It's not constant. Is it possible for whatever is causing the issue to only shock once in a while if it's always on?

In addition, is this something I need to be drastically concerned about? My equipment is all 6m old or less, so nothing should be failing yet, but who knows.

 

[Lagoon Reef Keeper]

Heaters are not always on. Maybe coming from that when it gets powered on (assuming it’s a inkbird style set up or similar) probably the only thing in the water that isn’t on all the time.

 

[ndrwater]

^^^^^^^^^^this...
I teplace heaters every 2 years regardless of working or not. Notoriously the weak part of the system, and when the fail, usually in the on position.. cheap insurance just to replace them.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

Heaters are not always on. Maybe coming from that when it gets powered on (assuming it’s a inkbird style set up or similar) probably the only thing in the water that isn’t on all the time.

That could be it, I do have dual innovative marine 350w heaters and I have to run them 2 degrees higher to hold the DT at 78 degrees, so they always seem to be on to me. Their light is near always on at least. Should I not worry too hard then? Nothing seems impaired.

 

[ndrwater]

If you have stray voltage, and the if the heaters are indeed at fault, I would replace them asap... I won't get better, only worse

 

[Wandering Albatross]

^^^^^^^^^^this...
I teplace heaters every 2 years regardless of working or not. Notoriously the weak part of the system, and when the fail, usually in the on position.. cheap insurance just to replace them.

2 for heater related. These are still pretty new, but I was planning to replace the elements every other year or so. Don't want soggy fish sticks, I prefer mine crispy

 

[UncommonSense]

Are you running your tank on GFCI outlets? — is there a ground probe in the sump?

Stray current you can feel through a break in the skin is more than enough to start electrolysis of any energized metal conductors in direct contact with saltwater… — this means your equipment may be dissolving copper into the system!

 

[Lagoon Reef Keeper]

Heaters are not always on. Maybe coming from that when it gets powered on (assuming it’s a inkbird style set up or similar) probably the only thing in the water that isn’t on all the time.

That could be it, I do have dual innovative marine 350w heaters and I have to run them 2 degrees higher to hold the DT at 78 degrees, so they always seem to be on to me. Their light is near always on at least. Should I not worry too hard then? Nothing seems impaired.

What you could do. Get two new heaters set them up and check for the stray voltage. If it’s no longer going on that answers that. If you still get stray voltage with brand new heaters then would have to be elsewhere. Return pump with an exposed wire or something. Not an electrician so just my spit balling idea ha.

 

[Lagoon Reef Keeper]

^^^^^^^^^^this...
I teplace heaters every 2 years regardless of working or not. Notoriously the weak part of the system, and when the fail, usually in the on position.. cheap insurance just to replace them.

I agree, replace every now and then. I will say heaters failing on won’t matter with an INKBIRD. turns off power to heater if it fails on. Great tool for those that don’t know of them.

 

[Wandering Albatross]

I agree, replace every now and then. I will say heaters failing on won’t matter with an INKBIRD. turns off power to heater if it fails on. Great tool for those that don’t know of them.

Innovative marine is supposed to have that kind of protection as well, it was the main reason I spent the extra money on it. Auto shutoff if the tank exceeds a certain temperature. I'll have to go looking, the heating elements were sold out for months when I first tried to buy them, hopefully they'll be back in stock. I have 2 emergency heaters, but one has no temperature controls and the other can be set but has no overheat protection. They're for mixing and emergencies where I would be babysitting the tank anyway.