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.
__________________ Chris
60gl
1 x spotted Damsels
1 x Yellow Watchman Goby
1 x Orange Spot Goby
1 x Blue Tang/Palette Surgeonfish
1 feather Duster
Clean up crew (Turbo Snails and Hermit Crabs)
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.
__________________ Samuel
"If they but knew it, almost all men in their degree, some time or other, cherish very nearly the same feelings towards the ocean with me.... There is magic in it. Let the most absent-minded men be plunged in his deepest reveries--stand that man on his legs, set his feet a-going, and he will infallibly lead you to water, if water there be in all that region."
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.
__________________ Chris
60gl
1 x spotted Damsels
1 x Yellow Watchman Goby
1 x Orange Spot Goby
1 x Blue Tang/Palette Surgeonfish
1 feather Duster
Clean up crew (Turbo Snails and Hermit Crabs)
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>
Hello,
I would also recommend the use of weatherproof receptacle cover. This will help protect from splashes or like when me when and start messing with a pump and spray water all over the place.
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.
My brother-in-law is an electrician and he recommended using portable GFI's like these Portable GFI power cords from Coleman Cable 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?
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.
__________________ Bobby
"I FORMERLY glued animals to rocks" NO TANK RIGHT NOW, but you never know when I might throw one together !! I have everything I need but the time!!
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I'm now considering only using GFCI as I would be slighty concerned about the electric tripping while im away at work.
