Help... I get shocked and my fish got worse...

[Mako]

Hello all...

This is a sad day, I awoke to find all my fish dead in my 45 gallon FO tank. Lastnight fine, today not so fine. My first thought was I screwed up by using a new sponge to wipe algae yesterday (possible ammonia).. but after testing the water, the levels are OK. BUT I noticed I got a little electrical tickle when reaching in to get some snails and crabs out. After unpluging everything, no tickle... but no matter what I plug in, canister filter, powerhead, whatever, I get shocked? I don't understand why... I don't have a GFI on this setup... I'll get one (two little too late)... but does anyone know what would cause ANYTHING plugged in to drop current into the water? I don't have any leaks.... anybody anything? The only common thing is I have them plugged into a common power strip... could have this 5 buck thing killed my fish?

BTW... of the 4 fish I lost two I've had for over 4 years (niger trigger and Koran Angel)... tuff SOB's, survived 6 moves in 5 years including treks from N. Carolina to Chi and Chi to NYC in a cooler with me in the moving truck.. this really sucks.

[Junkzoo]

Big Bummer Mako,,,
first do a search here on TRT using shocked,stray voltage,gcfi,etc. to get a better feel for your problem and solving it.

when you said , no matter what you plugged in , you got shocked,
did you do it one at a time,then unplug,and try another item?

i could possibly be that you "lost" your ground on the house system,,,water pipe ground strap, or ground rod outside,,,,
have a electrical qualified person check that out.

a plug strip might be the problem ,only in the fact of a open ground circuit,,,,

when you get around to checking out the problem, read up on the search results,get a DIGITAL multi-meter, and check out the tank and devices as per the prior posts.

if you can't find the posts in the archives,,,let me know ,and i'll run it thru with you again,,,

again,,,,sorry for your loss Dude

[Geoff]

was the power strip on the floor, is the floor carpeted. if the tank spilled or leaked and the floor was wet and it got into the power strip then i would think it could cause a shock to you.

just a thought,

G~

[Mako]

Junkzoo,

Thanks... I unplugged everything at first... I suspected the heater figuring they are the usual culprits. No shocks..... I plugged my skimmer back in (Maxi Jet 1200) to clean whatever junk was it the water after the mass death scene I had, and I got zapped reaching for a hermit. Figured that was it, plugged my canister filter back in unplugged the skimmer (everything else still unplugged) zappo again... unplugged the canister and just plugged in the extra powerhead I have in there for circulation... and agian ZAP!!! I felt like Beaker on the muppets... mind you they aren't powerful zaps... more like static when you get out of a car or something but I'm fustrated as can be, now I guess I need to buy a electrical meter... wonderful.

[Mako]

Geoff,

That shouldn't be it... the powerstrip is up under the tank in the stand, it would have to break or I'd have to pour alot of water down the back for it to even get misty... like I said this is wierd.

[Geoff]

be carefull, i would check back on the previous threads on unsuccessfull electricution techniques to figure out the best way to test current with something other than yourself

G~

[Mako]

I'm checking the archives as we speak... thanks for you help.

[Brooke]

Sorry about your losses...that really stinks. Installing a GFCI and a grounding probe should be the first thing everyone does before adding water to a tank. I know the GFCI has saved our rear ends numerous times.

If you don't find what you need using the search function, just let us know and we can help answer some questions.

Brooke

[Junkzoo]

Originally posted by Brooke
Sorry about your losses...that really stinks. Installing a GFCI and a grounding probe should be the first thing everyone does before adding water to a tank. I know the GFCI has saved our rear ends numerous times.

If you don't find what you need using the search function, just let us know and we can help answer some questions.

Brooke

Mako, i have to say ditto on what Brooke posted about a GCFI AND grounding probe. it oughta be in every tank that goes out a LFS.

Ditto on the search stuff, any questions, feel feel to ask,,,we'd all be glad to help,,

[Alice]

I'm sorry for your losses.

I have a question...I am definitely not an electrician so I am trying to understand. Usually we get shocked because we're standing on the ground or touching the tank and the current has no where to go except into us, correct? It's not just passing through, so to speak?

I know that stray voltage in a tank can affect livestock but if Mako isn't getting a hard zap, is it enough to kill the fish inside the tank?



I am wondering about that sponge. Regular household sponges are treated with chemicals-antifungals, anti-bacterial, etc.

Alice

[Mako]

Hey everyone... I was investigating all night.

1. I don't have any electrical shorts on my components... I believe the zap I was getting was from static electricity from my new carpets.... I tested each component with a volt meter... no leakage in the water at all. After being fully convinced this was the case I investigated other things and found out if I walk around my tank area then place my hand in the tank Zappo!!! If I don't move from that spot and place my hand in again, I'm fine, nothing. Once I walk a bit, I get zapped agian.... If I dragged my feet I can get a really bad zap!!! My wife thought I was nuts testing this out. But atleast I know my electrical stuff is OK....

2. The new sponge.... I dipped it in the tank water, rung it out into a test kit and retested.. the ammonia level was higher than in the tank.... between .02-.04 using this method (tank was less than .02)... I believe this now to possibly be the culprit... I'm sure there might have been other agents on this thing as Alice has described (antifungal, etc.).... my hypothesis is... I might have had a ammonia spike that killed my fish, then the canister filter lowered the level of ammonia in the water over the time it took me to find the dead fish. I feel like a moron for using the **** 33 cent sponge...

3. The only other possible thing was I fed them a seaweed strip, they all chowed it... but I've been feeding them that for a couple weeks and this was from the same package, so I doubt this.

4. Survivors.... the 2 hermits and 3 snails I had in there... they are now living large in my new 55 reef tank.

Thanks for all the help, I feel really bad that my laziness to go to the store for an algae pad cost me my beloved fish... but I guess others will learn from this and never do the same.

BTW.... GFI and ground probes will be installed this weekend on this tank.... already have them on the other.

Thanks.

[icebear]

So sorry

[tdwyatt]

Originally posted by Geoff
be carefull, i would check back on the previous threads on unsuccessfull electricution techniques

Sorry about your loss, but now that I read Goeff's post, I have the image of someone standing on a stepladder with a powerstrip in one hand in front of the aquarium shouting, "Hey Y'all, Watch this!!!" Prolly one of the Darwin award winners here somewhere...

[Ichthus]

mako...sorry about your fish and your "shocking" experience. (sorry...I just couldn't resist guys ) But you can spray "Static Guard" on your carpet around your tank (test a strip out ina closet or other inconspicuous place to make sure it wont stain) and you will help remove the static. I had a car like that. Everytime I got out, *zap*.

I am glad you bought a meter and are getting a GFI outlet. Might also want to think about a ground probe too. HTH.