So I finally located the source of my grounding problem in my 55 gal. Its the heater. It only shocks my cuts or scrapes. So its low amps/voltage. Anyways the only wire I have to make a ground is copper speaker wire. Is an inch of this sticking into the water too much copper for the reef that I will be making it into? Any suggestions are welcome.
Copper grounding wire
- Thread starter blackcloudmedia
- Start date
I don't know... I'm not an expert on the subject, but IMO saltwater is reactive enough to break that down and leach it into the water. grounding probes are usually titanium I believe.
Something else to consider, I never thought about it but my buddy was explaining to me. If you reach your hand into a tank with loose voltage, you act as the ground which is why you get the sensation of being shocked. Otherwise the tank water is not grounded and voltage does not pass through. By adding a grounding probe, you're adding a permanent ground and that voltage will therefore always be channeled through the water.
IMO, make sure your tank is on a GFCI first and foremost, skip the grounding probe, and replace the defective heater.
I'm sure my understanding with the grounding of voltage is rough around the edges, so someone correct me if I'm off base here.
Something else to consider, I never thought about it but my buddy was explaining to me. If you reach your hand into a tank with loose voltage, you act as the ground which is why you get the sensation of being shocked. Otherwise the tank water is not grounded and voltage does not pass through. By adding a grounding probe, you're adding a permanent ground and that voltage will therefore always be channeled through the water.
IMO, make sure your tank is on a GFCI first and foremost, skip the grounding probe, and replace the defective heater.
I'm sure my understanding with the grounding of voltage is rough around the edges, so someone correct me if I'm off base here.
Oh geezus, do NOT ground your tank, with copper or anything else. Replace the heater and throw the old one away, it's broken or faulty in such a way that electricity is getting into the tank.
The reason why it "only" affects cuts of scrapes is skin in general has quite a bit of resistance, but once it's cut (or severely skinned away) the electrical current has access to your iron rich blood which by comparison is very low resistance, which is why you feel shocks.
But the end result is you have a heater that is somehow broken, and you need to replace it.
The reason why it "only" affects cuts of scrapes is skin in general has quite a bit of resistance, but once it's cut (or severely skinned away) the electrical current has access to your iron rich blood which by comparison is very low resistance, which is why you feel shocks.
But the end result is you have a heater that is somehow broken, and you need to replace it.
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