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bfessler 
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 Topic: Stray Voltage and Grounding Probe
Posted: April 28 2010 at 8:49pm |
I have changed my opinion regarding stray voltage in the reef tank and the use of a grounding probe.
I have long been opposed to using a grounding probe in the tank to eliminate stray voltage because a grounding probe completes the circuit of the failed equipment to ground potentially causing an unsafe condition in the tank but today after testing for stray voltage in my tank I have discovered that every piece of equipment I have including some not even in the water create stray voltage in the tank. For this reason I believe that it is important if not critical to use a grounding probe in the tank to eliminate the effects of stray voltage on the inhabitants of the saltwater aquarium.
I suspected that a piece of equipment was leaking voltage in the tank when I put my hand in the tank and my arm touched the metal housing of my lights and I felt a slight tingling sensation. Today I brought home a voltage meter and tested the tank. Sure enough the tank read 45V AC in the tank. So I proceeded to unplug all the equipment and one by one plug them back in. Just plugging the plug strip back in raised the voltage in the tank to 4.7v with the power switch off and 5.5v when I turned on the power switch. In order to plug in the rest of the equipment I had to leave the power strip plugged in and turned on so the voltage started at 5.5V. Here are the results of voltage tests while plugging in the rest of my equipment one by one.
Plug Strip Alone switched off 4.7v , switched on 5.5v
Controller Off 5.9v, On 8.1v, On with temp probe in water 10.7v.
Heater 34.7v
ATO Transformer 6.7 Not in tank and not energized
Maxi Jet 1200 33.7v
Maxi Jet 1200 16 v
Koralia 1 23.8v
Generic Powerhead 29v
Canister Filter 11.5v
Cord to ATO Aqua Lifter Pump not running 9.5v
Lights 4.4v This actually caused a reduction in the voltage of only the power strip being plugged in.
Everything On 45V
Voltage with everything on and temporary grounding probe (Coat Hanger plugged into the ground hole of power strip) 0.0v
Based on these readings I believe that a grounding probe is an essential component for most Saltwater Aquariums. I would also recommend using a GFIC breaker in addition to the grounding probe for additional protection from electrical shock.
I am going to keep an eye on the corals and other inhabitants of the Frag Tank to see if there are any changes in their extension or growth. This may have something to do with the mysterious disappearance of several fish while I was out of town. I didn't understand why fish were dieing in the tank but stray voltage will stress the fish and has been linked to Head and Lateral Line Disease.
I am interested in any thoughts on the subject of using a Grounding Probe
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Burt
An equal opportunity reefer,
I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
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Crzyfshguy
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Posted: April 28 2010 at 8:53pm |
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I have something that is really sending a good jolt through my hand when it is near the tank all the sudden. I was always against them too but need to get one for sure when I swap tanks in the next week.
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45G w/ leds
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bugzme
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Posted: April 28 2010 at 8:53pm |
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I really wouldn't want a good path to ground in my tank.
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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bfessler
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Posted: April 28 2010 at 8:57pm |
 bugzme wrote:
I really wouldn't want a good path to ground in my tank. |
Consider the possibility of a piece of equipment failing to the point that line voltage is present in the tank. You put your hand in the tank and then touch something that is grounded You become the good path to ground. Changing the electrical potential of the water from whatever it is to 0 removes this possibility as well as may provide a more comfortable environment for the fish and corals.
Edited by bfessler - April 28 2010 at 8:59pm
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Burt
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I support all hobbyists and organizations involved in Marine Aquarium Keeping.
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bugzme
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 10:23am |
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Using a grounding probe just give the current a better path. The voltage is still in the water.
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Jeff
125 tank
50 gallon sump
T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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bfessler
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 10:41am |
True, this was my opinion until checking voltage in my tank. Every piece of equipment creates stray voltage, even the lights. Total voltage in the tank was almost 50VAC with no place for it to go. None of the equipment was malfunctioning or leaking more current than normal but still there was excessive voltage. The current was very small but when my wet arm touched the metal housing of the lights i could feel the current going to ground.
The grounding probe becomes the shortest path to ground. Now when servicing my tank I feel no current when touching the metal housing of my lights. I believe this improves both the the safety of the person servicing the tank and reduces stress on the livestock.
I tested my Nano tank as well and found the same issue. I will be adding a titanium grounding probe to both tanks tomorrow.
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Burt
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ajkochev
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 3:38pm |
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Slightly off topic but would putting the whole tank electrical on a GFCI outlet help when a major grounding issue occurs as well? I was always told to do this, especially on tanks with a lot of different equipment.
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Crzyfshguy
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 4:34pm |
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Lets get some more input here, I want to know everyone's opinion. All the good points and bad points should be brought up.
I did notice that saltwater tends to change the feeling you get when you become the path to ground. I have shocked myself many a time with a 110 wall outlet, but the voltage present in my tank (when the stars align and it does get me) hurts like hell!
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bugzme
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 6:06pm |
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Tank has no real current! Always use a GFCI! I do.
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Jeff
125 tank
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T-5 lighting
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I KNOW ROCKS THAT ARE YOUNGER THEN ME!! I AM A Realist! I write what I think!!
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bfessler
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 11:16pm |
OK. I've done a little research on the subject and may have to go back to my original opinion of not using a grounding probe. Here is an excellent article on the subject. http://angel-strike.com/aquarium/GroundingProbes.html and this one about GFI Breakers http://angel-strike.com/aquarium/GFI&TechnicalDetails.html . I found it interesting that a GFI breaker will not always trip when current is flowing in the tank.
The issue is weather the voltage in the tank is being induced by the frequency of the equipment in and around the tank or if a piece of equipment is actually leaking current into the tank. Educed voltage is simply the potential for current to move through the conductor (water in this case).
So the issue is how do you determine if voltage measured in the tank is coming from a defective piece of equipment or simply induced voltage in the tank caused by induction from lighting, pumps and other electrical equipment?
Edited by bfessler - April 29 2010 at 11:25pm
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Burt
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BobC63
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Posted: April 29 2010 at 11:41pm |
I am just as confused as Burt as to whether or not a grounding probe is a good or bad idea...
Here is what I know goes on in my own tanks:
Big tank runs everything on GCFIs. If I have a cut on my hand / finger and then put it in the water I get a little "tingle" at the site of the cut, so I believe I have some stray current / voltage / whatever...
If I do not have a cut I don't feel anything, so I am guessing / hoping? that means the voltage is somewhat low. Touching both the light reflector and the water with the same (wet) arm does nothing so I don't think the lights are an issue. I would guess my 2 pumps and (2) 400w heaters probably are the culprits, with the return and skimmer pumps the most likely suspects.
Anyway, I have heard that adding a grounding probe could cause me to get a bigger - maybe much bigger - shock, under certain conditions. So I am hesitant.
Now my small tank I have never gotten any kind of tingle or anything. However, I don't have a sump so no big return pump and no big skimmer pump, and only (1) 150w heater and 1 Koralia 3. No GFCI, either... 
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* Marine & Reef tanks since 1977 *
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bfessler
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Posted: April 30 2010 at 12:20am |
So 47 volts seems like a lot of electricity in the tank so I decided to measure the current that is generated between the water and ground. It measures a tiny 0.01 amps on my multimeter. This leads me to believe that none of my equipment is leaking electricity into the water column and that the voltage reading is induced voltage with very little current.
Now the question is does providing a path to ground with such small amperage affect the livestock in the tank? I have heard several reports that adding a grounding probe improves the health of the livestock in the tank but none that report harm. If this is the case it seems that a grounding probe is a prudent safeguard against electrical shock when used with a GFI Breaker.
If anyone has any real world experience on the subject I would like to hear your opinion.
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Burt
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DLindquist
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Posted: April 30 2010 at 12:09pm |
All very interesting. I was just considering a grounding probe myself. I have never noticed a problem (nor have I ever tested for stray voltage) until about four weeks ago when I touched the reflector with my arm in the water (which I have previously done many times). It was a rather intense jolt. Two weeks later, I woke up in the middle of the night due to the quietness of the tank. The first GFI ever- had been tripped and the tank sat idle. After playing around, I found it was my two heaters (300 watt, I believe) located down in the sump. Very interested to hear what any "real world testing" has to offer on the pros and cons of the grounding probe.
-David.
Edited by DLindquist - April 30 2010 at 12:10pm
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laynframe
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Posted: May 02 2010 at 9:41am |
I can say in my field we use only 24v to control hvac equipment. 50v is a lot of voltage sitting in a tank. If the amprage increased in the tank for some reason and you stick your arm in the tank and you touch something grounded there is potential to make your heart stop. It only takes a tiny amount of amps to do this. They always say its not the voltage that kills its the amps! Salt water is highly corrosive and over time can eat through protective coatings on equipment. A gfi should always be used around water. A grounding rod will protect you in the case of a electrical problem in your tank, instead of you taking the jolt the rod will and it will shut down a gfi plug! Just remember electricity always takes the shortest path to ground. In my opinion it wouldn't hurt to have one in the sump and one in the tank. Salt water is very conductive and can carry a good amount of voltage. Just my 2 cents 
Edited by laynframe - May 02 2010 at 9:48am
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maizes
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Posted: December 14 2012 at 11:58am |
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I tested my 150 gallon fish only saltwater tank, and the voltage meter registered 52 volts (!). Turning off the lights reduced to the reading to 32 volts. The protein skimmer, the underwater "fans", and the motor each added about 5 volts each. I read that a grounding pole would still allow current in the tank, that the fish would feel. However, the equipment otherwise seems to be functioning normally. Any ideas?
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