Stray voltage

[fancy_fish101]

Im wondering can stray voltage or current not sure how to word travel from sump to display through your return or overflow?

 

[Jay Hemdal Verified Community Expert]

Im wondering can stray voltage or current not sure how to word travel from sump to display through your return or overflow?

Seawater conducts electricity very well, so yes it will travel through water if there is potential (like a ground).

You need to determine if you have "stray voltage" (induced voltage) or a defective piece of equipment with a short circuit.

Have you gotten a shock from the tank?
Is the tank's equipment plugged into a GFI outlet?

Jay

 

[fancy_fish101]

I never

Seawater conducts electricity very well, so yes it will travel through water if there is potential (like a ground).

You need to determine if you have "stray voltage" (induced voltage) or a defective piece of equipment with a short circuit.

Have you gotten a shock from the tank?
Is the tank's equipment plugged into a GFI outlet?

Jay

no I never got shocked I’m just wondering as I just got new mp40 and like the idea of wires out of main tank. So all my wires and everything are in sump now. Just trying to keep my live stock safe.

 

[HudsonReefer2.0]

I use a ground probe. Quick fix

 

[themcnertney]

Yup ground probe here too.

 

[exnisstech]

Stray voltage does not harm livestock. Many people blame it for mysterious deaths but have never offered proof that stray voltage is the cause. Tank inhabitants are not grounded so they are not affected by the voltage.
I know some people will disagree and if so please provide proof. I have had as much as 50 volts in a tank from leaking koralia powerheads and fish and corals were fine. The danger is to us not tank inhabitants.

 

[Brett7397]

If you have voltage then you have water in contact with wire or something metal. Metals could leach into the water which can kill some live stock.

 

[piranhaman00]

Friendly reminder to never use a ground probe unless you are using GFI

 

[exnisstech]

Friendly reminder to never use a ground probe unless you are using GFI

Why is that? Not challenging just asking :winking-face:

 

[piranhaman00]

Why is that? Not challenging just asking :winking-face:

The stray current will go to ground and can potentially overheat the circuit ie fire. You need gfi to kill the circuit if a fault is detected ie stray current

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I never

no I never got shocked I’m just wondering as I just got new mp40 and like the idea of wires out of main tank. So all my wires and everything are in sump now. Just trying to keep my live stock safe.

So you have no actual reason to be concerned, other than wires in the water?

The tank should be on a GFI, and if so, I'd move on to other worries. :)