Fishy Business

Grounding probe usage

Are you using a grounding probe for your tank?

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Alexander1312

Alexander1312

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Jan (CEO) from DELTEC recently recommended using a grounding probe, and I remember I still had this in storage somewhere when I thought my yellow tang was impacted by stray voltage.

I thought it could not hurt to use it, but I am curious if you are using one, and if there is a way to use it wrongly?

The instructions state it should not be plugged into an extension cord or power strip, but I only have a free slot in my extension cord.

Thoughts?

A possibly good video/discussion between Tidal Gardens and Abyzz CEOs regarding this topic:


IMG_2770.jpeg
 
Following along. I don't have any grounded 3 B prong outlets in my house except in the bathrooms.
I have to use 3 prong to 2 prong adapters to plug all of my dj equipment power strips into the wall outlets.

It's a older apt built in the 50s or 60s. Only renting so can't really fix things. I always wondered would one of these grounding rods work for me in any kinda way. Not having anything really grounded via the only using 2 prong adapters plugged into the wall outlets.
 
Super super old school. Technically you would need a grounding probe in every body of water that has any electrical equipment. I used them early days for years and years. The only part of the probe that is titanium is the end. The rest is a copper/aluminum wire. Over time they will corrode. I never found it helped or hurt. Way back in the day. We use to make our own with a stainless steel bicycle spoke soldered to a wire and we grounded that.
 
Turkeysammich said:
Super super old school. Technically you would need a grounding probe in every body of water that has any electrical equipment. I used them early days for years and years. The only part of the probe that is titanium is the end. The rest is a copper/aluminum wire. Over time they will corrode. I never found it helped or hurt. Way back in the day. We use to make our own with a stainless steel bicycle spoke soldered to a wire and we grounded that.
Click to expand...
Both the DELTEC and Abyzz CEOs seem quite convinced it is still useful, and Alex/Abyzz seems to have convinced Than Thein as well.

You know much more about electricity, I have no clue. Will do more research.

On the probe quality, that is true. It should probably not be submerged fully, and needs to be replaced every year or two, but this seems to be a cheap device.
 
Took me a while to get that table created with better sources, although some are still questionable, so not sure if 100% correct.

What I am sensing from this is that a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) / GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is the essential equipment, and the probe piggybacks on its benefits by providing faster responses to a potential high voltage event.

However, the downside of only having a GFCI is that stray voltage will not be removed from the water, and this is what I understand was the main benefit of using a probe.

I am not an electrician, and not planning to become one - but truly admire this profession, so very much open for fact checking.

IMG_2774.jpeg
 
Alexander1312 said:
Took me a while to get that table created with better sources, although some are still questionable, so not sure if 100% correct.

What I am sensing from this is that a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupter) / GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter) is the essential equipment, and the probe piggybacks on its benefits by providing faster responses to a potential high voltage event.

However, the downside of only having a GFCI is that stray voltage will not be removed from the water, and this is what I understand was the main benefit of using a probe.

I am not an electrician, and not planning to become one - but truly admire this profession, so very much open for fact checking.

View attachment 74824
Click to expand...
I like the “idea” that it absorbs or maybe adsorbs stray electricity, but I’m NOT convinced it actually does so.
And , yes it ffffgggg crazy what we do: plug a device into a wall outlet when submerged in water and then put our hands in that same water!!
So far so good
It’s too late to stop now
 
Kensington Reefer said:
I like the “idea” that it absorbs or maybe adsorbs stray electricity, but I’m NOT convinced it actually does so.
And , yes it ffffgggg crazy what we do: plug a device into a wall outlet when submerged in water and then put our hands in that same water!!
So far so good
It’s too late to stop now
Click to expand...
Don’t Stop …… Can’t Stop….. Won’t Stop
 
Last edited:
GFCI is required. I think we all agree on that. Moving on.

Adding a Grounding probe likely has no significant additional effect, positive or negative. But negative scenarios are more likely.

A small electrical leak in the tank with no grounding probe (very high resistance) will cause stray voltage to build up, with no amperage (no actual flow of electrons). In other words, nothing happens. For most organisms, including humans, this has no effect.

The reason we feel stray voltage as tingling or worse when we put our hands in the tank is because we are completing the circuit to ground (lowering the resistance) and causing amperage (electrons to flow). At that point, we (and the animals in the tank) feel the effects because we are acting Ike a grounding probe.

If you add a grounding probe, you are allowing this amperage to flow all the time, though at a lower rate since the voltage doesn’t get to build up.

Some animals can definitely sense voltage itself, like sharks/rays, and having the stray voltage messes with this sense. But not animals in our tanks as far as I know. There have been some anecdotal reports of inverts or coral reacting negatively to stray voltage but I’d put this in the “possibly true, possibly BS” category.

Most people find voltage/resistance/amperage easier to understand as analogy to pressure/resistance/flow (respectively). Having a little extra pressure build up with very high resistance so there’s no flow looks approximately like nothing. This is the case with stray voltage in our tanks. When you lower resistance by adding a probe or a human hand, then flow happens and it causes effects like getting shocked.

Also grounding probes tend to cause electrolysis if there’s any stray voltage, which is more likely to release stuff you don’t want in your tank like copper. Especially if you aren’t super conscientious about changing them out.

Finally, probes can mask electrical leaks and keep the negative effects of low current flowing without tripping the GFCI.
 
JVU said:
GFCI is required. I think we all agree on that. Moving on.

Adding a Grounding probe likely has no significant additional effect, positive or negative. But negative scenarios are more likely.

A small electrical leak in the tank with no grounding probe (very high resistance) will cause stray voltage to build up, with no amperage (no actual flow of electrons). In other words, nothing happens. For most organisms, including humans, this has no effect.

The reason we feel stray voltage as tingling or worse when we put our hands in the tank is because we are completing the circuit to ground (lowering the resistance) and causing amperage (electrons to flow). At that point, we (and the animals in the tank) feel the effects because we are acting Ike a grounding probe.

If you add a grounding probe, you are allowing this amperage to flow all the time, though at a lower rate since the voltage doesn’t get to build up.

Some animals can definitely sense voltage itself, like sharks/rays, and having the stray voltage messes with this sense. But not animals in our tanks as far as I know. There have been some anecdotal reports of inverts or coral reacting negatively to stray voltage but I’d put this in the “possibly true, possibly BS” category.

Most people find voltage/resistance/amperage easier to understand as analogy to pressure/resistance/flow (respectively). Having a little extra pressure build up with very high resistance so there’s no flow looks approximately like nothing. This is the case with stray voltage in our tanks. When you lower resistance by adding a probe or a human hand, then flow happens and it causes effects like getting shocked.

Also grounding probes tend to cause electrolysis if there’s any stray voltage, which is more likely to release stuff you don’t want in your tank like copper. Especially if you aren’t super conscientious about changing them out.

Finally, probes can mask electrical leaks and keep the negative effects of low current flowing without tripping the GFCI.
Click to expand...

This was my conclusion when doing the research on the topic, and is the most informed why I've heard to think about it. TY
 
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