GFI's

[duke1231]

I live in an apartment and do not have GFI's anywhere in the house except the kitchen and bathroom, and sense I can't and do not want to put my tank in these places. What should I do about the rooms I am going to be putting the tank into? Is there another option I can do. If not I am afraid I am going to have to make a cichlid shelldweller tank. Thanks :cry:

[V]

well just short of spending the dosh for a sparky to install one, there are plug attachments to kill an overload. im not sure id stake my life on them, athough they do protect your expensive equiptment for surges. personally i use them for both tank & entertainment gear. At the end of the day theres no substutute for quality life saving products. Its the difference between palm leaf sandles and nike shoes, sure they both perform the job, but theres a big difference between them!

[duke1231]

thanks veriann. the attachments are going to have to work because I dont think the bloke that owns the apartment is going to install them for my reef tank. thanks again

[V]

whats a cichlid shelldweller tank?

ive kept cichlids before, in fact i started on them very early in the peace. To be honest i still wish i had them & was content, cause this salt branch is alot more expensive and frankly thats a hell of alot of beers & porn that ive missed out on cause ive spent money on products instead. :p

[duke1231]

Yea no kidding! I was adding up what I need and what it is going to cost, and it's running pretty expensive. The beauty though is unmatched, by just about any other fish in the fish keeping hobby. the thing that attracts me back to the cichlids is how undemanding the cichlids can be. I am sure it is not entirely easy, it wouldnt be easy if it was, but it seems with reef keeping there are constant threats to micro habbitat. In the end it cost a lot of money on up keep. I dont care how mature your tank is stuff still goes wrong when you turn your back for just a sec. I think most people in the hobby realize that and enjoy it.

[CarmieJo]

You can buy GFI extension cords that are OSHA approved. Here is a link (http://www.ericson.com/products/subcategory.asp?id=6) to one company that shows a variety of types. You can find a lot more by searching the net. I think I would look for that OSHA label. :)

[V]

now why didn't i think of that, fantastic carmie, thanks

[fat walrus]

whats a cichlid shelldweller tank?
Shell-dwellers are cichlids that live inside empty snail shells. They are usually smaller fish as they use the shell to hide from predators. Many West-African and Lake Tanganika cichlids are shell dwellers. There are also Central and South-American cichlids that are shell dwellers. Some large predators with powerful jaws will crush the entire shell, others have figured out how to shake the shell until the poor inhabitant decides to abandon it.

[fat walrus]

You can buy GFI extension cords that are OSHA approved. Here is a link (http://www.ericson.com/products/subcategory.asp?id=6) to one company that shows a variety of types. You can find a lot more by searching the net. I think I would look for that OSHA label. :)
The GFI extension cord is not necessarily UL-Approved, or up to code in all areas.

GFI will work better if the tank is grounded as it should be anyhow.

[V]

isn't the third prong on the plugs an earth in the states?


Ive kept mainly mabuna cichlids. And frankly i couldn't stop them breeding like rabbits even if i tried. ive never heard of the shell dwellers in all my time of keeping them. Sad story with mine actually, I gave my fresh selection to my brother in law a few years back, 6 months they were all dead> how on earth could you kill something as hardy as them fish. Mate that really ticked me off since i had them for years, goes to show not everyones got the nack for keeping our aquatic friends alive!

[CarmieJo]

Yes, the third prong is ground (earth) here.

[wwest]

I installed my GFI myself. I am far from an electrician. I would say to just try and replace it yourself but it something was to happen i would really hate myself..

If you want one installed by a professional just call one. One of my best friends is an electrician and he said hes always doing little jobs like that for around $20. It would be worth a shot. :)

[V]

Yeah, having sparky friends does come in handy at times, not always the question of doing it yourself but rather the insurance aspect, cause it something happens the companies would rip you a new passage & leave you standing in your chared smoldering remains.