Grounding probe location

[the_colonel]

Where do you guys put your grounding probes? Sump, fuge, display, all of the above? Or does it make no difference because the current will travel anywhere to get to ground?

[ReefSitter]

Inside my overflow box. I would think as long as your return pump is running your sump would be grounded too.

[redwinger]

I put the ground in the sump as it is where the majority of the components are located. That way things that are more likelly to cause a short are protected all the time.

[Frogbone]

Unless you run a separate wire from the sump to the tank you wouldn't have a reliable ground circuit.
I have it in the back corner of the tank because I have my hands in the tank much more often than in the sump.
Best solution would be to have two ground probes, one in the tank, one in the sump

[Loverotties]

Thats what I have two probes!

[Graham]

Overflow box here.

[smeese]

Never used a groundng probe. What for?

[redwinger]

Basically so you don't become the ground.

[Graham]

I've heard that ground probes are also for the well-being of the fish. HLLE has been implicated in fish exposed to stray voltage. Not sure on that. I've read stories about houses with bad grounds where the probe actually causes shocks when it's on. Some people also think that adding a probe adds current in the tank. If there is no path to ground, there's no current. Once you add the probe, you add a path for the voltage to become current. This won't hurt you, but it might affect what lives in the tank...Just like if there's no probe and you have stray voltage - you become the ground and a current is formed. There are people that purposely don't use GPs, though.

GFCI's are what you really want to use to ensure that you don't become the ground. I wouldn't run a single piece of equipment in a reef tank without running it into a GFCI outlet. It will detect voltage leaks as they arise, but that means they shut off your power... That can be bad if you're not around for awhile.
I've also thought about arc-fault interruptors on circuits that run VHO bulbs. I've read lots of bad stories about fires...

[aka_bigred]

Originally Posted by Graham

I've heard that ground probes are also for the well-being of the fish. HLLE has been implicated in fish exposed to stray voltage. Not sure on that. I've read stories about houses with bad grounds where the probe actually causes shocks when it's on. Some people also think that adding a probe adds current in the tank. If there is no path to ground, there's no current. Once you add the probe, you add a path for the voltage to become current. This won't hurt you, but it might affect what lives in the tank...Just like if there's no probe and you have stray voltage - you become the ground and a current is formed. There are people that purposely don't use GPs, though.

GFCI's are what you really want to use to ensure that you don't become the ground. I wouldn't run a single piece of equipment in a reef tank without running it into a GFCI outlet. It will detect voltage leaks as they arise, but that means they shut off your power... That can be bad if you're not around for awhile.
I've also thought about arc-fault interruptors on circuits that run VHO bulbs. I've read lots of bad stories about fires...

Well said. That's what I've decided from my research and the theory I'm following.