I was wondering with all the electrical equipment we use and place directly into tanks/sumps how can we minimise risks to ourselves and family.

For example I have 3 pumps in my sump (Aquabee pump, and 2 less known makes) and a heater all of them are directly connected to 240 v mains.

All my fish equipment run of a separate fuse box and hopefully all the equipment is water tight.

I was wondering if there was anything else we could do or use to make our environment safer like the use of lower voltage devices with isolating transformer.

I think far and away the most important thing you can hace 9and everyone should have them) is a GFCI to hook their equipment to. Preferably a GFCI socket AND breaker. A grounding probe is of some benefit as well.

What is a GFCI socket? I have seen the breakers in the hardware store and they are pretty cheap.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) we call them RCD and i think they monitor the amount of current running, if there is a drop i.e. electric is running through you they trip the electric.


All my tank equipment runs via RCD and i have a separate RCD for the house.

I've also been told you can place a titanium rod in your sump in which you earth.

Yes, the titanium rod is a grounding probe. A GFCI plug is the same as a breaker, but it's built into the electrical recepticle. Like this:

GFCI RECEPTACLE 15A ALM B03-08599-00A LEVITON MFG. CO., INC. (http://www.acehardwaresuperstore.com/gfci-receptacle-p-20994.html?osCsid=034cfda7c0d6fff99fd6c95bd01a31c0 )

cmay has it right, a GFCI monitors the hot and neutral wires, and shuts the circut if there's an inbalance (i.e. power flowing throug you, or your tank0>

The grounding probe seems an interesting idea, I guess we would require titanium due to salt corrosion.

i have mine hooked up to a metal base plate in a mouse cage, when they start dancing i know there's stray current heating the base plate muhahahaha:no:

Hello,
I would also recommend the use of weatherproof receptacle cover (http://www.intermatic.com/?action=subcat&sid=99). This will help protect from splashes or like when me when and start messing with a pump and spray water all over the place.


John

The grounding probes are cheap, only about $15, and prevent stray voltage from leaking into your fish or YOU!

Here's some really good info from a similar discussion on my local club's board:

A ground probe without a GFCI is very dangerous.
The first problem: There is electrical equipement in the tank, with a gound probe, the water is grounded if there is a short circuit to the water there will be a high current established that besides killing everithing in the tank will overheat the wiring that will burn and create a fire. It has been my experience than in more than half of the cases the current is high enough to melt the insulation and cause fire without being high enough to trip the breaker which basically needs a very good closed circuit (basically a perfect short circuit to actuate.

The second problem is that your water again an excellent conductor will be perfectly grounded. If while working in the aquarium by chance you touch an external equipement (lighting or external pump) that has a short to the casing or reflector, the contact is so good that you will have a good chance of getting electrocuted. In this case without the probe, the current instead of passing from the device to the water trough your body, will pass from the device trough your body to the floor. Chances are the carpet, your shoes or carpet will provide a bit of insulation so you will be shocked and probably hard but with less chances of being electrocuted.

Using only a GFCI you are protected in both cases. Although a short to water will electrify the water, without the probe the GFCI will not trip but if you touch the water it will trip protecting you.

Finally with the probe and the GFCI if there is a short the GFCI will trip without the need for you to touch the water.

In summary GFCI + Probe trips as soon as the short happens
GFCI alone, trips when you touch the water.

Many aquarist specially if they travel a lot use the GFCI alone without the probe as it reduces the chances of the system tripping when you are not around.

In summary, IMO a GFCI is a must, after that the probe is optional.

Phurst - Really useful info :up: I'm now considering only using GFCI as I would be slighty concerned about the electric tripping while im away at work.

My brother-in-law is an electrician and he recommended using portable GFI's like these Portable GFI power cords from Coleman Cable (http://www.arizonatools.com/tools/portable-gfi-power-cords/) instead of a GFI outlet. His rational was that you can unplug the aquarium from the GFI when you are going to be away for longer than a day. (A day is about how long my battery operated pumps that come on when the power goes out will work.) He said that the GFI could trip during a power outage. If this happened your power would be off until you got back home. He didn't give any +/- about using a grounding probe.

I was told that a probe would stop the fish from getting lateral line desease???
It would also help not to electricute the fish?

I was told that a probe would stop the fish from getting lateral line desease???
It would also help not to electricute the fish?

partially true ... it WILL NOT STOP them from getting it, but my help with them NOT getting it. MHLLE is a disease that has a lot of controversial cures. the main things that cause MHLLE are stress and imbalanced diet. i have a great article on MHLLE if you are interested in reading about it. i am sending it to you in a PM, because it is so long ... it might be in 2 PM's.

it would have had to be in 11 PM's so let me get permission from Steven Pro to post it here, and i will get Rob or wwest to add it as a sticky thread.

better yet ... here is a link to it ... DUH, i make things so difficult on myself sometimes !! lol

Marine Head & Lateral Line Erosion: A Description of the Syndrome and a Review of its Speculated Causes by Steven Pro - Reefkeeping.com (http://www.reefkeeping.com/issues/2005-06/sp/index.php)

Good article, I'd not read it before.

i once had a Red Sea Sailfin Tang givin to me to try to figure out what was going on with it (he was in BAD shape), and a talked to Steven through MANY emails, and he pointed me to the article. today the fish is doing great and you can barely tell he ever had anything wrong with him, but i wish i had the room to keep him ... he was about 12" long and 8" tall with his fins flaired out.

How did you cure him?

I thought the ground probes also helped reduce "stray electrical currents" in the tank. I have always thought of these as static electricity; not something that could fry you.

Oh, and TY for posting about the GFI things, i will have to grab some of those portable ones.

How did you cure him?


this time it turned out to be the diet of the fish. he was ONLY getting mysis and NO algae. i put him on a very strict diet, and he was good as new within 6 months.

here are some pics when sick ...

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/lReef_lKeeper/MHLLE2.jpg

http://i109.photobucket.com/albums/n75/lReef_lKeeper/MHHLE.jpg