Shocking!!

[LedZeppelinfan101]

Tonight I was about to do some tank maintenance, so I reached in to scrape some algae. I felt what I thought was a s electrical shock, but I thought, "Nah, I must just have a cut or something that's stinging." Then I touched my other fingers to the surface of the water and received equally strange electrical shocks. I had my father come down to the basement and touch the surface of the water and he jerked his hand back quickly because he felt a shock too. I turned off my power strip and the shocks stopped. I began unplugging powerheads one at a time to figure out what it was. It was a Rio 600 powerhead. It was shocking me! It was a painful shock too, not just a slight one. It made my finger wiggle! Anyone else have problems with powerheads shocking you?

[Junkzoo]

All the time LOL.
Do search on the subject (stray voltage/ getting shocked / GFI's and ground probes etc) and find a couple of them that inform how to check your tank, for a bad device in/on it.
Kinda running late for work now, or i would give my long spiel about ihe subject of checking your tank for bad elect devices etc. I've done it already a few times, so you might be able to find it in one of the archived threads.

[bklynmet]

It doesn't suprise me that it was a rio from the many negative posts I have read about them in the past two years. I have not had that yet happen to me - knock on wood. Though I do have the tank's power running through GFIs for that reason. Supposedly, it'd trip the circuit if I were having an electrical leak and my hand was in the tank re-directing current to ground. That's the theory behind using them - safety against you being the path of least resitance for electricity to travel to ground.

[digitalis]

Joe,
Do you have a ground probe in your tank? I know GFI's only trip when they see voltage to ground, but I didn't remember seeing one in the tank.

[Loverotties]

Sounds like your tank isn't grounded.

[grallster]

Good 'ole Rios--same thing has happened to me....that's why I don't use them anymore.

[bklynmet]

No grouding probe in my tank.

[digitalis]

In that case, Joe, The only function the GFI will serve is it will trip if any equipment gets wet. Now if you had a ground probe in the tank, and a powerhead went bad, it would trip the GFI. I'm at fault too (no pun intended), I have no ground rod in my tank either. But this makes me consider getting one. $15 on DFS. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

[Bender 2]

Rios are notorius for going bad. And I am not just bashing them from what I have read. I have a Rio 3100 that will light you up when you touch the water (just ask Parasite). I use to use it to mix water but not anymore.

[bklynmet]

Originally Posted by digitalis

In that case, Joe, The only function the GFI will serve is it will trip if any equipment gets wet. Now if you had a ground probe in the tank, and a powerhead went bad, it would trip the GFI. I'm at fault too (no pun intended), I have no ground rod in my tank either. But this makes me consider getting one. $15 on DFS. http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...1&N=2004&Nty=1

what you're saying is true.. but a GFI should trip if you stick you hand in the tank that is leaking electricity into the tank - at least that's my understanding... there should be some signs of stray voltage in tank with some unhappy corals or fish... I'm interested in me when I put my hand in the tank... is that careless? I do know...

[digitalis]

Only if you are grounded when you put your hand in the tank. I can show you how to touch 110V live wire, and not get shocked. With no path for the electrons you can't get shocked. Now if you are in bare feet, standing on the basement floor, the carpet will insulate you a little, but you still might get a tingle. Do the same but wear shoes, and touch only the water, and you might not feel it. The GFI will trip when it senses current between 110V hot and GND. It is very sensitive. It will probably trip if you put your hand in the water, and the water is charged, since it will detect that very minute amount. Take the GFI off, and use a regular outlet, and you might feel a tingle, but maybe not 110V.... maybe 50 or 60... depending on your conductivity to ground. You will still feel it, though. You can feel a little tingle from 12V car battery. The AC is more noticable, since is has the alternating current.
Someone please correct me if I am wrong, but this is how I understand it, and really don't feel like testing with my own tank.

[lostwhirley]

I had the same experience 8 years ago...never bought another Rio in my tank. Never.

[Bender 2]

I'm with you whirley, after all of the horror stories and my own personal experience, I will never buy another Rio pump.

[bklynmet]

Eric... I think you and I were saying the same thing... putting your hand in there will trip the GFI if your redirecting some of the voltage to ground by some alternate means - ie your body...

[digitalis]

Yeah, that's about what I was saying. :-)