Grounding Probe? b4 I forget!

[ScoobityDoobity]

What brand does everybody like to use as far as grounding probes go? I need to stop forgetting to get one, and I'm sure my fish thought the same while we were having that nasty little thunder & lightening storm the other night! LOL

[beach bum]

Brand doesn't really matter - just make sure it is titanium.

[Alice]

Agreed; as long as it's titanium. There's not much to screw up on a grounding probe.

[skeletor]

hi folks,

just how important is a ground probe in a reef tank ? I have had several tanks over the years and never had a ground probe, should I now start using one on my 20gal ?

thanks,
rich.

[beach bum]

I am no electrician so I forget the testing device name, but I borrowed one from an electrician friend. I was surprised when the needle jumped high, but as soon as I dropped the probe in it went to zero - proof positive. It's just one added stressor to remove if you have 10 bucks to spend.

[Xwild]

Is a ground probe really a good thing? Or will it just hide pumps/powerheads/heaters that have really failed (insulation breakdown, etc..) and should be replaced?

Or do those of you that run ground probes have as part of your monthly maintenance schedule a quick test of pulling the probe, and using a meter to check for stray voltage? (or for the geeks, do you just have a current meter inline on the probe so you can always tell at a glance if one of your electrical components is heading south?

Would a valid option be to just leave a voltmeter plugged in all the time, and have it monitor for a voltage difference between your tank and your house ground?

Just a few questions on my mind..

[dtiedke]

Originally posted by Xwild
Is a ground probe really a good thing? Or will it just hide pumps/powerheads/heaters that have really failed (insulation breakdown, etc..) and should be replaced?

Exactly the opposite....you ARE using a GFCI on the tanks outlets right??? IF not, you should get one immediately (it could save your life!).

If you are using a GFCI outlet, and a powerhead, heater, whatever loses insultaion and grounds into the tanks, the probe would/should trip the GFCI at least.

If you don't have a GFCI, and the same thing happens, it would/should ground the stray voltage to the house's ground, and protect you from a nasty (and possibly lethal) shock. But without the GFCI, you could run the risk of fire if your circuit breaker is not functioning properly. Best bet is to spend the 8 dollars and buy a GFCI.

My $.02

Dave

[ScoobityDoobity]

I heard that Salt Water is a BIG conductor of electricity, so in a thunder and lightning storm, if your house gets struck the grounding probe will keep your fish from frying. Is this true? It is the reason I want to get one. Then all yall's coments started making me want to get one even more!

[Zephrant]

SD- Lighting is a strange thing. With a strike close by, the current can actually come in to the house though the ground lines.

So no, the ground probe will do nothing to protect against lightning. As mentioned above, it does do good things for the tank though.

Zeph

[125G's]

Any suggestions as to where you can buy these grounding probes?

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by 125G's
Any suggestions as to where you can buy these grounding probes?

info links and a few sites to buy them... (I dunno, I was bored... )
Our sponsor Premium Aquatics
cheap and effective non-metallic DYI-method from OZ
http://www.ultralifedirect.com/grounding_probes.htm
http://www.aquadirect.com/catalog/misc/
Todd Criel's Excellent Overview article
info and technical details
#reefs article several authors

hth, btw,I have never set up or run a system that has not had some type of grounding mechanism, many reef-related unknown afflictions like HLLE have been attributed to stray current (HLLE is still most likely HUFA deficiencies AND other related causes). There is a visible and observable difference in the fish population with the use of a grounding probe, not to mention the safety issue. Todd's article is one of the most informative and gives a few suggestions on some dyi as well (titanium bike spokes, for example...)