Voltage in aquarium

[newnoobreefer]

Been having alot of issues with “voltage” in my aquarium recently moved into a old duplex and upgraded my aquarium bc i have more space. I noticed awhile ago that almost none of the outlets are grounded. I did find a couple that are. my aquarium is plugged into the outlet that is “grounded” through some extension cords, but i seem to be having alot of stray voltage in my aquarium around 30-33v and if i have a small cut on one finger i can feel the voltage through the cut on my finger. I tried to look for faulty equipment but everything in the tank new or old seems to be giving off stray voltage. What can i do emergency please help

 

[UncommonSense]

Been having alot of issues with “voltage” in my aquarium recently moved into an old duplex and upgraded my aquarium bc i have more space. I noticed awhile ago that almost none of the outlets are grounded. I did find a couple that are. my aquarium is plugged into the outlet that is “grounded” through some extension cords, but i seem to be having alot of stray voltage in my aquarium around 30-33v and if i have a small cut on one finger i can feel the voltage through the cut on my finger. I tried to look for faulty equipment but everything in the tank new or old seems to be giving off stray voltage. What can i do emergency please help

do you have a GFCI outlet to plug this equipment into? It’s extremely hazardous to run an aquarium without one!

You don’t want to be touching the water unnecessarily if there’s an actual current leak you can feel… use a submerged grounding probe, and a GFCI outlet to test for equipment faults… plug equipment in one at a time to see if any one or several piece(s) trip the GFCI…. If you get a trip, you have a legitimately dangerous piece of gear plugged in!

 

[Euphyllia97]

Double check your heater. Might have a crack somewhere. I had this problem aswell and was really hard to find the faulty equipment using a meter ad there was no big drop when heater was disconnected. Later on found out I had not enough flow around the heater and the glass was broken, leaking electricity in the tank. Your fish should normally be fine if nothing is providing a path for the current to flow. (Every time you stick your hands in the tank, they might feel it)

 

[That Crusso Kid]

do you have a GFCI outlet to plug this equipment into? It’s extremely hazardous to run an aquarium without one!

You don’t want to be touching the water unnecessarily if there’s an actual current leak you can feel… use a submerged grounding probe, and a GFCI outlet to test for equipment faults… plug equipment in one at a time to see if any one or several piece(s) trip the GFCI…. If you get a trip, you have a legitimately dangerous piece of gear plugged in!

Well, you did it again. While I was writing my reply, your reply posted.

I am going to have to take a class of speed-typing or something because I'm getting a little tired of this trend!

 

[That Crusso Kid]

Been having alot of issues with “voltage” in my aquarium recently moved into a old duplex and upgraded my aquarium bc i have more space. I noticed awhile ago that almost none of the outlets are grounded. I did find a couple that are. my aquarium is plugged into the outlet that is “grounded” through some extension cords, but i seem to be having alot of stray voltage in my aquarium around 30-33v and if i have a small cut on one finger i can feel the voltage through the cut on my finger. I tried to look for faulty equipment but everything in the tank new or old seems to be giving off stray voltage. What can i do emergency please help

After doing what @UncommonSense recommended, please make sure to keep your tank grounded, at all times.

Also, please be sure to wear gloves whenever you work on your tank. There are many different forms of bacteria that can wreak havoc on your body. This is nothing to play around with.

 

[UncommonSense]

To add to the safety notes: I highly recommend consulting a qualified electrician regarding the home electrical, and this specific issue, particularly if you aren’t familiar with the methods or equipment required for such diagnostics!

— Electricity and saltwater can lead to potentially fatal results if the proper safeguards are not in place!

 

[newnoobreefer]

do you have a GFCI outlet to plug this equipment into? It’s extremely hazardous to run an aquarium without one!

You don’t want to be touching the water unnecessarily if there’s an actual current leak you can feel… use a submerged grounding probe, and a GFCI outlet to test for equipment faults… plug equipment in one at a time to see if any one or several piece(s) trip the GFCI…. If you get a trip, you have a legitimately dangerous piece of gear plugged in!

do you have a GFCI outlet to plug this equipment into? It’s extremely hazardous to run an aquarium without one!

You don’t want to be touching the water unnecessarily if there’s an actual current leak you can feel… use a submerged grounding probe, and a GFCI outlet to test for equipment faults… plug equipment in one at a time to see if any one or several piece(s) trip the GFCI…. If

do you have a GFCI outlet to plug this equipment into? It’s extremely hazardous to run an aquarium without one!

You don’t want to be touching the water unnecessarily if there’s an actual current leak you can feel… use a submerged grounding probe, and a GFCI outlet to test for equipment faults… plug equipment in one at a time to see if any one or several piece(s) trip the GFCI…. If you get a trip, you have a legitimately dangerous piece of gear plugged in!

Where would i get a gfci outlet to test each piece of equipment could u show me an example or does it have to me installed by an electrician

 

[newnoobreefer]

Double check your heater. Might have a crack somewhere. I had this problem aswell and was really hard to find the faulty equipment using a meter ad there was no big drop when heater was disconnected. Later on found out I had not enough flow around the heater and the glass was broken, leaking electricity in the tank. Your fish should normally be fine if nothing is providing a path for the current to flow. (Every time you stick your hands in the tank, they might feel it)

I just ordered a new heater earlier today thinking thats what it was. I have a simple multimeter and i tested each equipment 1 by 1 and it seems that every piece of equipment is sending stray volts, with no near ground i used a metal pipe as a ground and stuck in the red probe into the water

 

[Hallowhead]

I am concerned you're not testing "stray" voltages correctly in your tank.

Are you testing similarly to the below ?

 

[4ddiction]

Always recommend a grounding probe in the tank. Even if you don’t have stray voltage.

 

[newnoobreefer]

I am concerned you're not testing "stray" voltages correctly in your tank.

Are you testing similarly to the below ?

Yes that is how im testing, its kind of difficult for me to plug a ground in with no grounded outlet my closes outlet that is “grounded” is about 15 feet away

 

[Gumbies R Us]

If you are not able to swap out the outlet itself with a GFCI outlet. I would highly highly reccomend getting something like this. We just had one of our members last year pass away due to electrical issues, and it is a very serious matter.

 

[Hallowhead]

Yes that is how im testing, its kind of difficult for me to plug a ground in with no grounded outlet my closes outlet that is “grounded” is about 15 feet away

Your new spot probably has old cloth 2 wire and simulates a fake ground, you probably need a single conductor ran to properly ground the outlets, I would have an electrician look at it.

 

[4ddiction]

Ground wire tapped into the metal box usually will be enough to ground the outlet. Have an electrician come by to solve the issue

 

[ScottJ]

@Paul B

Any thoughts?

 

[newnoobreefer]

Here is a picture i managed to take this is only the return pump plugged in

 

[W31Olds]

Been having alot of issues with “voltage” in my aquarium recently moved into a old duplex and upgraded my aquarium bc i have more space. I noticed awhile ago that almost none of the outlets are grounded. I did find a couple that are. my aquarium is plugged into the outlet that is “grounded” through some extension cords, but i seem to be having alot of stray voltage in my aquarium around 30-33v and if i have a small cut on one finger i can feel the voltage through the cut on my finger. I tried to look for faulty equipment but everything in the tank new or old seems to be giving off stray voltage. What can i do emergency please help

Are you sure you not just feeling the effects of salt in your finger cut? I would verify this by sticking your finger in a container of SW. Also, That Crusso Kid is correct, open cuts can lead to infections. Without knowing the characteristics of your return pump, it's hard to say if your Meter Reading is a problem, but not likely.

 

[Hallowhead]

I also think if your total tank with everything plugged in is measuring around 30v that's pretty normal. As someone mentioned a grounding rod is good to keep to avoid any equipment that fails from nuking your tank.

 

[newnoobreefer]

Are you sure you not just feeling the effects of salt in your finger cut? I would verify this by sticking your finger in a container of SW. Also, That Crusso Kid is correct, open cuts can lead to infections. Without knowing the characteristics of your return pump, it's hard to say if your Meter Reading is a problem, but not likely.

Yes i know i shouldn’t have any open cuts its very unsafe im just extremely stressed over the situation, its sounds crazy but if i put my entire hand in the tank i dont feel anything but if its just the tip of my finger with the small cut on it i feel it like crazy

 

[BeanAnimal]

I just ordered a new heater earlier today thinking thats what it was. I have a simple multimeter and i tested each equipment 1 by 1 and it seems that every piece of equipment is sending stray volts, with no near ground i used a metal pipe as a ground and stuck in the red probe into the water

These “tests” are somewhat meaningless without current measurements, and almost certainly induced voltage, not fault current.

Put the multimeter away, it is not the right tool in the right hands (this goes for almost everyone in the hobby). Plug the tank into a GFCI. If it trips, you have a fault. If it doesn’t, that is all induced voltage and normal.

Ungrounded receptacles? I would have the landlord hire an electrician to replace every one of them with a GFCI for safety, aquarium or not.