electricity in tank

[robbywood20]

I need help bad. I cane home today and my corals looked like death. I checked all parameters and everything was fine. I stuck my hand in the sump and got a small jolt. checked it with a meter and was getting 6.78 volts a/c. I began unplugging things to try to track it down. after unplugging every electical thing in my tank I still had 6 volts and was still getting a shock when I stick my hnds in the sump. I'm not reading any voltage in the display tank and donot get a shock when I put my hands in the main tank. I do have a pretty extensive electrical background but this one is beyond my knowledge. any suggestions?

 

[superclown]

Are u sure everything is unplugged? I would imagine shortly after u unplug everything the voltage would be non existent in the tank?

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[dakota9]

Unplug and remove one piece at a time.

 

[robbywood20]

I am absolutly sure, the onlything I can that could possibly make any sense to me is that something is somehow storing power like a capacitor would do but I cant imagine what it could be other than my refugium lights

 

[rdnelson]

First off, is it on a GFI? Next, what is the sump sitting on and is it wet around the sump? Is there an extension cord or anything near by that may be laying in a puddle or on wet carpet?

I don't believe the reading you are getting with the meter will tell you much I believe every tank will give some reading due to electrolysis. But you have something electrical in contact with the water. You get shocked in the sump because you compete the path to ground. The same voltage IS in the display but for whatever reason you are not completing the path to ground from the display. But the corals are proving it is in the display as well.

 

[robbywood20]

everything is unplugged now but the skimmer is still sitting in the sump and a maxijet 1200 that I use for my GFO reactor. I also have an auto top off in the sump but thats it

 

[rdnelson]

Did you unplug the sump and display lighting?

 

[rdnelson]

UNPLUG EVERYTHING!!! No buts. Don't assume anything is good.

 

[robbywood20]

its an in wall with the equiptment in a utility room with a concrete floor. I agree with you nelson I'm sure the electricity is also in the display tank

Edit: nothing is plugged in that concerns the tank. I tend to think its something else in the utility room that is touching the concrete floor

Edit: I will say that I have an external little giant pump that has a capacitor ton it

 

[rdnelson]

Concrete is a very good conductor. Unplug anything within about 10 feet of the tank or sump even if it is in another room. If you still feel it turn off the breaker that feeds the sump e quick. It is doubtful but possible it could be something in a different room but on that circuit that is back feeding the tank thru the ground. Most likely though it is something in the fish room.

 

[robbywood20]

I have 2 coral life titanium grounds on this tank one in the sump and one in the display tank. why am I still getting shocked? by the way it is not on a GFI circut

 

[rdnelson]

The capacitor on the little giant would be unlikely. If it is not running the worst case would be you get shocked once but thAn it is discharged and wouldn't shock you again unless you turned back on.

 

[tinmanunited]

How are those grounds connected? Remove them as well, if you have a stray voltage on your house ground that's the path.

 

[robbywood20]

My first thought was my uv sterilizer because I just started back using it but that was the first thing I unplugged

Edit: I just removed the grounds and the voltage dropped to 4.34 vac

 

[rdnelson]

Has absolutely everything been unplugged? No exceptions? Including all lights? Still getting shocked?

 

[rdnelson]

Trust me, the volt meter will lead you down the wrong path.

 

[robbywood20]

everything is unplugged but I did plug the external pump back up just to get some water movement. my corals are already suffering

Edit: the volt meter may but my hand getting shocked tells me differnt lol

Edit: I have a good mind to take a hammer drill and drive me a ground rod through that concrete and ground the dang tank to it. lol

 

[rdnelson]

robbywood20;826533 wrote: everything is unplugged but I did plug the external pump back up just to get some water movement. my corals are already suffering

Edit: the volt meter may but my hand getting shocked tells me differnt lol

Edit: I have a good mind to take a hammer drill and drive me a ground rod through that concrete and ground the dang tank to it. lol

That would be treating the Simpson not correcting the problem and you have bigger problems down the road.

 

[robbywood20]

thanks so much for the help. I'm still showing some voltage but either my hand is numb or it just isnt shocking me anymore.you will crenge will I tell you this but my house was built in 1971 and has aluminum wiring so bigger problems is not at all out of the question.

 

[rdnelson]

Done correctly AL wiring is not a bad thing. The problem is that every connection must be tightened to the correct torque periodically which I am sure has not happened.

Not a fact but a likelihood would be a Brocken or loose connection in a receptacle on the circuit.

Where about a do you live. General area is close enough for now.