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Tested the water today when I got a tingle from a cut. I run 2- 2217 eheim filters and 2-300w heaters in my tank. The filters each bleed approx 8 volts and the heaters bleed approx 15 volts. This isn’t normal right? The filters I get, they’re 20 yrs old but for the heaters 1 is 2 months old and the other is 3 yrs old. Any fixes or suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks
Is there any moisture in the heater?Quote:
Originally Posted by Patrick4802
When ever I have had a heater like that I just replaced.... sooner or latter it will fail or you will get a shock.
Al
Thanks Al. The heaters look dry in the inside but there has to be water getting in somewhere to get the voltage in the water. I’ve been through a couple eheim heaters and 1 hydor. Any good recommendations for a 125 gallon tank?
I am not Al but I use these and am extremely pleased.
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/titan...ef-supply.html
Haven't tried those yet Frank, but the reviews look good, Might give them a try down the road.Quote:
Originally Posted by fljones3
Patrick, I have a many kinds here and all of them pretty much fail sooner or latter. I find my best success is the eheims...but even they aren't as good as they used to be. I usually keep several heaters on hand and just replace whats needed. You do seem to get better mileage if you use 2 heaters vs one.
al
Thanks al. I appreciate the help.
Do you ground your tank? I have a ground probe in the tank that does to the ground on your outlet. This removes any voltage in your tank
I do not. But If all of the devices are working as they should there should be minimal voltage in the tank.
True but sometimes something does bleed electric into the tank. If you feel so must the fish. So the probe removes that voltage. No more problems. Also your tanks should be on a gfi breaker.
I don't think the fish feel it ?
They are not grounded like us with our feet on the ground. They are in a glass tank ,basically insulated ...
I have been shocked more then once .It was always the heater .
I wear shoes in the fish room without exception now ..
I have grounding probes but I would not count on them with real leaks .Maybe stray voltage but when a heater fails I would not expect the probe to save me .
Most keep their tanks on GFCI but sometimes trouble occurs when they shut down your whole tank and you don't find out ill later ..
I agree! and I have had a few cases where my arm went numb ..lol... Not fun!!Quote:
Originally Posted by coralbandit
al
When I first set up my 125 with all new equipment I would get a small shock similar to a static electric. Added the ground and never got it again. Allways wear sneakers and it happened every time I touched the water. Can’t say for sure but it did seem like the fish calmed down after I added it. Not a fish :) but I would think stray electric would bother them.
Never had this issue with FW but big issue with SW and most reefers pay strict attention to this. Perhaps the anions and cations of SW exacerbate things. Culprit is usually the heater. Haver always used ground probe in all my tanks. If youve been in this hobby long enough you've likely gotten your share of huge jolts. I'm not sure if they feel it or not but perhaps this may be the cause of otherwise healthy fish getting sick without antibiotics or water changes helping. Just some thoughts but no scientific proof whatsoever.
Jumping back into this. I installed a gcfi that I had been putting off and ordered 2 new heaters. Replaced the heaters and the new ones are still bleeding the same voltage in the water. Is it possible that I received 2 bad new eheims? Unless I have a fresh cut I don’t feel the electricity and the gcfi doesn’t trip
Thanks
Its called stray voltage all of the electrical equipment in your tank produces it. I don't believe you can get rid of it by replacing your equipment I had 22 volts at one time. As far as I know it happens with all electric circuits. Weather stray voltage hurts fish I do not know what I do know is my Discus seemed to be calmer when I added a ground. Here's what i used https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0..._s00?ie=UTF8&p
If your tank is shocking you it is more than stray voltage and should immediately find the source. If you have a gfi and it trips when you touch the water in your tank you better find out why.