electric shock

[fosterspike]

today i reached into my tank and noticed a slight shock in the water. i unpluged everything and found out it was one of my heaters. how bad is this to my fish and corals?

[Brian Ward]

today i reached into my tank and noticed a slight shock in the water. i unpluged everything and found out it was one of my heaters. how bad is this to my fish and corals?

 

 

It isn't really except when you reach in the tank and provide the path to ground. It's worse for you and may indicate a failing heater. I would replace it before it cooks your tank.

[fosterspike]

it was one of my heaters, but i have extras to replace it, thanks for the help

[extreme_tooth_decay]

it was one of my heaters, but i have extras to replace it, thanks for the help

 

 

What brand heater was it?

[fosterspike]

it was one of those black stealth heaters

[blaze98]

I had a powerhead do that to me, nasty stuff.

[zygote2k]

get a ground probe.

[jason the filter freak]

after long exposure it can theoretically cause lateral line disease. i would really worry aabout it. i recall reading an article somewhere where they were using electricty to make a reef grow faster i belive by lowering activation energy requirements of biological processes

[Black Mammoth]

I would DEFINITELY worry about it. First it, can be very dangerous to someone, especially if it isn't on GFCI. Second, it may get worst and eventually trip your breaker. Then whatever you have on that circuit would be off which could be catastrophic to the tank.

[extreme_tooth_decay]

I would DEFINITELY worry about it. First it, can be very dangerous to someone, especially if it isn't on GFCI. Second, it may get worst and eventually trip your breaker. Then whatever you have on that circuit would be off which could be catastrophic to the tank.

 

+1

 

Throw it away and buy an ebo-jager.

[Coral Hind]

It doesn't hurt the fish normally because they are covered in an equipotential solution and their bodies are a better insulator then that solution.

 

You need to get a GFCI! I prefer two, split the heaters, pumps and power heads up on them so if one trips the other still works.

[fosterspike]

i do have GFCIs and i already got rid of the heater and i had some extra lying around to use.

[Jon Lazar]

i do have GFCIs and i already got rid of the heater and i had some extra lying around to use.

 

Make sure that extra heater you had laying around is good quality and operates correctly. There are many posts here from people who have lost everything due to a mafunctioning heater. A cheap heater can either cook your tank or allow it to get too cold, break and release all sorts of chemicals into your water, or short and trip a circuit breaker.

 

Jon