BASSCYN;185315 wrote: Does anyone have a second opinion of this product? Looks like a good solution if it works. You would not have to worry with GFI tripping. I currently do not have GFI. Now I am concerned about it and want to act. I can install GFI's if that is the only option...but I like this better if effective.
Please advise!!!!
Hi Chris,
You are talking two different animals here.
The titanium grounding probes you find at Fosters and Smith, etc, are marketed to deal with stray voltage in the aquarium produced as a result of normal equipment operation, with their original intent aimed at preventing possible detrimental effects on fish, mainly Lateral Line Erosion/Hole in the Head.
Most Aquarium grounding probes are not marketed as a people safety product, but as a health guard for the fish. Online retailers market multiplugs with inline GFCIs for people safety. mere is one from marine Depot:
http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~TW38085.html">http://www.marinedepot.com/ps_ViewItem~idproduct~TW38085.html</a>
The type of electricity a GFCI is meant to deal with is the type you would get if a piece of equipment plugged into household current, like a heater or water pump, etc, becomes damaged and the device's electrical system gets directly exposed to the water. This type of current is the stuff that can seriously injure. You might not feel it every time. For example, if a heater is broken, you may not get a shock if it is not turned on, but you will if it is.
Electricity in liquids is passed by the ions in solution, so it conducts much better in saltwater, which has a much higher conductivity than say, RO water or distilled water.
Here is a brief explanation of conductivity in water:
[IMG]http://www.lenntech.com/water-conductivity.htm">http://www.lenntech.com/water-conductivity.htm</a>
Also, here is a very understandable answer from the FAQ section at Aquariumguys.com about Ground Probes and GFCIs:
>
[B]I have a 100 gallon saltwater aquarium with a wet dry filter, UV sterilizer and flourecent lights. Sometimes I get an electrical shock when I put my hand in the water. Should I have some sort of a ground strap?[/B]
Using a titanium ground probe is an absolute safety neccessity for ALL saltwater aquariums. Of all the deaths attributed to the aquarium hobby, almost all are due to elctrocution. A ground probe will help prevent this from happening. The use of a Ground Fault Interruption electrical outlet is the surefire way to prevent electrocution, but the ground probe will also take care of stray voltage emitted from some pumps and other devices.
However, you cannot actually "feel" stray voltage, except perhaps through an open wound exposed to the water. If you can actually feel voltage in the aquarium, you are facing a far more serious situation which may only get worse. The first thing you need to do is to determine what piece of equipment is causing the problem. You can use a voltage meter for this purpose or another method, we'll touch on later. Possibile culprits include your UV sterilizer, a submersible pump, or a heater if you have one.
However, if you only get a shock occasionally, it is very likely the device that is leeching voltage into the water is one which is not on all the time. That might be a heater, or it could be the lights. If you don't get a shock when the lights are out, then the lights may be to blame. This often happens when home-made lighting is used, which we never recommend. It can also happen if the lighting is directly over open water.
Check your submersible pumps, UV sterilizer and heater for any signs of wear that might explain this. If you see hairline cracks in the housing of pumps or on the heater, or there appears to be moisture inside the heater, DISCARD AND REPLACE! These devices cannot be repaired and your life is worth more than their value. Take apart the UV sterilizer and look for breaks in the quartz sleeve or any evidence of a broken seal or gasket. Repair if needed.
An alternate method of determining what is causing the problem is to use a GFI outlet as a testing device. GFI outlets have two small buttons in their center, one labled "test" and the other labled "reset." When water makes contact with any device plugged into a GFI, the GFI circuit breaker will trip, and the reset button needs to be depressed to make the outlet "live" again. By federal building code laws, GFI outlets must be used if the electrical outlet is within three feet of a sink, toilet or other water source. The electrical outlets in your bathroom and sometimes the kitchen should be this type of outlet.
Run an extension cord to your aquarium from one of these outlets, and one by one, plug each device into the extension cord. The device that trips the GFI outlet is the one you need to repair or replace. Do not rule out the possibility that it is more than one device. Test all of them. Keep in mind that a heater will only carry voltage when it's on, so turn the heater up before you test it.
>
I would never run an aquarium without GFCIs.
Dave
