To ground or not to ground

Craig · 06-11-2006, 03:31 AM

Is a titanium grounding probe a "must have" or is it just something to appease paranoia?

I currently have all electric items setup with a drip loop. Should I take the extra precaution of a ground probe?

Should it be in the main tank, or the sump, or both?

Tonyscoots84 · 06-11-2006, 03:46 AM

yes a ground is always a good thing to have especially for you and ur fishies.... ill put it to u this way.. wat would happen if something in the water is faulty like ur heater and its leaking stray voltage into ur tank... u put ur hand in the water and zzzzzzzzzz.... ouch..

u can put it in the sump...

reefman · 06-11-2006, 04:00 AM

tip: put in spot where the water level stays the same and only submerge the probe part in water.
i also have a qusetion:
how do i know if my probe is working w/o throwing a plugged toaster in my tank?

Tonyscoots84 · 06-11-2006, 04:07 AM

it does work... doesnt it get plugged into ummm something...

Disclaimer - do not throw plugged in, kitchen appliances into your tanks (actually anything that is plugged in and does not belong in ur tank) lmao

you can try

reefman · 06-11-2006, 04:26 AM

i mean how can i tell if there are no stray current running thru the tank(i.e current that i may not be able to feel).

House of Laughter · 06-11-2006, 11:11 AM

Reefman,

I think there is always some current that runs through tanks given the # of appliances we use in the water. I have 2 probes in my tank and am thinking about eating another.

Never hurts to have more. I think a conductivity meter is the way to test, but I am not 100% sure

House

TimberTDI · 06-11-2006, 05:38 PM

Quote:


	i mean how can i tell if there are no stray current running thru the tank

If you put a light bulb in the tank and it lights up...
you may have too much stray current.

**bad coffee** · 06-11-2006, 06:30 PM

You can take a regular volt meter and test it. ground one side, then touch the other probe to the water. You'll see how much stray current there is in the water.

Use a grounding probe.

B

pecan2phat · 06-12-2006, 12:40 AM

Food for thought:

There is the argument that a ground probe actually completes the circuit and is more harmful than good.

There's also the argument that a ground probe is useless unless plugged into a GFIC.

masterswimmer · 06-12-2006, 12:49 AM

Warren, I've heard those arguements also. The 'plugged into a gfci' arguement is ridiculous though. On a grounding probe the 'hot' and 'neutral' prongs are both rubber. So technically the grounding probe being plugged into the gfci outlet would never detect any stray voltage and trip.

The purpose of the grounding probe is to direct whatever stray voltage there might be in the tank to the house ground. If you don't use a g probe then putting your hand in the tank completes the circuit and you become the ground. Providing of course you aren't wearing rubber soled shoes.

I believe ground probes are useful.

swimmer

06-11-2006, 03:31 AM	#1
Craig 120 Club Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Norwalk, CT Posts: 1,120 Reefer Ratings: (13) Friends: (2)	To ground or not to ground Is a titanium grounding probe a "must have" or is it just something to appease paranoia? I currently have all electric items setup with a drip loop. Should I take the extra precaution of a ground probe? Should it be in the main tank, or the sump, or both?

06-11-2006, 03:46 AM	#2
Tonyscoots84 Soon To Be Nano KiNg ;) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Staten Island Posts: 7,037 Reefer Ratings: (22) Friends: (0)	yes a ground is always a good thing to have especially for you and ur fishies.... ill put it to u this way.. wat would happen if something in the water is faulty like ur heater and its leaking stray voltage into ur tank... u put ur hand in the water and zzzzzzzzzz.... ouch.. u can put it in the sump... __________________ B & A Computers Got Computer Problems? We Can Fix Them! (We Come To You For What It Would Cost For You To Bring It To The Store) Stop Getting Ripped Off and Start Saving Money On Tech Services! We Are Here For All Your Computer Needs. We have have helped hundreds of people save alot of money in Manhattan,New York,Bronx,Queens,Brooklyn,Staten Island and New Jersey. (718) 689 - 0662

06-11-2006, 04:00 AM	#3
reefman Chairman of the board Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: queens Posts: 3,349 Reefer Ratings: (28) Friends: (0)	tip: put in spot where the water level stays the same and only submerge the probe part in water. i also have a qusetion: how do i know if my probe is working w/o throwing a plugged toaster in my tank? __________________ GlobalLionDancer-Premier Internet provider of Chinese Southern Lion Dance Equipment! Last edited by reefman; 06-11-2006 at 04:02 AM.

06-11-2006, 04:07 AM	#4
Tonyscoots84 Soon To Be Nano KiNg ;) Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Staten Island Posts: 7,037 Reefer Ratings: (22) Friends: (0)	it does work... doesnt it get plugged into ummm something... Disclaimer - do not throw plugged in, kitchen appliances into your tanks (actually anything that is plugged in and does not belong in ur tank) lmao you can try __________________ B & A Computers Got Computer Problems? We Can Fix Them! (We Come To You For What It Would Cost For You To Bring It To The Store) Stop Getting Ripped Off and Start Saving Money On Tech Services! We Are Here For All Your Computer Needs. We have have helped hundreds of people save alot of money in Manhattan,New York,Bronx,Queens,Brooklyn,Staten Island and New Jersey. (718) 689 - 0662 Last edited by Tonyscoots84; 06-11-2006 at 04:10 AM.

06-11-2006, 04:26 AM	#5
reefman Chairman of the board Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: queens Posts: 3,349 Reefer Ratings: (28) Friends: (0)	i mean how can i tell if there are no stray current running thru the tank(i.e current that i may not be able to feel). __________________ GlobalLionDancer-Premier Internet provider of Chinese Southern Lion Dance Equipment!

06-11-2006, 11:11 AM	#6
House of Laughter www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Ossining, NY Posts: 10,304 Reefer Ratings: (124) Friends: (36)	Reefman, I think there is always some current that runs through tanks given the # of appliances we use in the water. I have 2 probes in my tank and am thinking about eating another. Never hurts to have more. I think a conductivity meter is the way to test, but I am not 100% sure House __________________ House of Fish (914) 424-0366 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

06-12-2006, 12:40 AM	#9
pecan2phat Professional Commuter Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Wallingford, CT Posts: 2,011 Reefer Ratings: (25) Friends: (7)	Food for thought: There is the argument that a ground probe actually completes the circuit and is more harmful than good. There's also the argument that a ground probe is useless unless plugged into a GFIC.

06-12-2006, 12:49 AM	#10
masterswimmer www.saltwatercritters.com Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Orange County Posts: 9,234 Reefer Ratings: (88) Friends: (16)	Warren, I've heard those arguements also. The 'plugged into a gfci' arguement is ridiculous though. On a grounding probe the 'hot' and 'neutral' prongs are both rubber. So technically the grounding probe being plugged into the gfci outlet would never detect any stray voltage and trip. The purpose of the grounding probe is to direct whatever stray voltage there might be in the tank to the house ground. If you don't use a g probe then putting your hand in the tank completes the circuit and you become the ground. Providing of course you aren't wearing rubber soled shoes. I believe ground probes are useful. swimmer __________________ House of Fish (845) 610-3114 www.saltwatercritters.com Serving all your saltwater critter and reef needs

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