Electric shock

[WILLIAM]

Hi, Everyone,

I have a 3 ft tank and recently when I put my hands in my tank I feel like very little electric shock and really causing discomfort. I had not this problem before. But strange it only happens sometimes..

Any idea what could be causing the problem?

thanks.[:0]

[jhseah]

Are u running any UV steriliser for your tank??
If yes, switch it off before touching.

It happens to Jacian once at Gan's place.[]

[David]

your heating rod could have a creak........turn off electricity, remove the rod and have a looksee....the slightest fracture on the glass portion could be the problem....

[WILLIAM]

Hi,

I am not using any heating rod. What is a UV steriliser?

Thanks.

[David]

hi william

do you have any equipment in the tank with electrical wiring running into the tank and/or any part of the water system? internal filter , power-head......

[vinz]

Errrmm, will this work?

1. Get a test pen and test the water for electrical leakage.
2. Turn off tank related electrical equipment of one by one until no leakage detected.

[WILLIAM]

I am using a Jewuel Tank. The only thing that uses electric and is submerge is the filter.

[vinz]

William,

Sounds like you got a short-circuiting filter. Try the test pen thing and then turn it off and try again.

[Anecdote...]
Reminds me of the time I was doing major reno on my house. My neighbout downstairs has a koi pond and we love it cos it sounds like a babbling brook. During one of my inspection of the reno progress, I look downed and had a fright. The pond was empty and all the fishes gone. I thot the reno had somehow killed the fishes and I could see a big wad of dollar bills flying off. Apparently my contractor had seen it earlier and also thot the same and had already checked with the neighbour.

Phew!!! It was the pond filter that had short circuited and fried the fishes. Poor koi though.

[David]

That's weird....usually fish do not get fried electrically coz they dont have ground contact....usless they are touching the bottom of the pond?[:0]

[vinz]

Hmmmm, possibly the water heated up or something?

Interesting. Can anybody explain?

[vinz]

Do fish get electrocuted when lightning strikes water?

Based on the above article, the koi probably got electrocuted because:
1. The pond is too shallow,
2. Their swam near the surface, which is what kois do a lot, OR
3. They got zapped when they tried to eat their food which typically floats.

Thankfully nobody stuck their hand in.

[Simon]

----------------
On 1/10/2002 5:53:23 PM

Hmmmm, possibly the water heated up or something?

Interesting. Can anybody explain?
----------------

nope, my AC dropped into my 2ft tank b4 and nothing weird happens.. except for the total blackout []

[WILLIAM]

The strange thing is I dont get the shock always.Only once in a awhile.

[David]

probably the rubber seal may be loosen, not properly installed, or a seaping leak.......

[sherchoo]

Vinz,
It's impossible for a fish to get electrcuted unless the fish touched both the live/neutral wires.

William,
It may be the filter but I doubt so. If it's the filter, you'll get shocked almost everytime you touch the water. My guess would be your lights. I know that its not toucing the water but condesation may cos the connection.

The next time you get shocked try switching off the filter. If you're still got zapped then try the lights. If you're too afraid to try that, then ground your lights. The best way is to connect the metal part of your lights to the earth pin of your 3pin plug.

Do you ussually wear slippers? This may be the reason of your intermittent occurance of your electrocution. But rest assured, these zaps are very very mild.

[vinz]

Sherchoo,

Did you read the article I linked to in my above post? It explains why we're have to leave the water when there is an electrical storm, yet fishes do not get fried when lightning strikes a body of water (except at the locality of the strike).

Based on the explaination given in that article, it is quite possible for the fish to be zapped without touching both neutral and live wires.

ViNZ

[jade]

This happen to me once also while cleaning the tank felt like there is some current(needle pocking feeling)and after checking all equipment no leakage and do my regular water change no more socking feeling.
My advise is that wear a rubber slipper or have a mat to ground yourself when handling tank.

[DEA]

vinz
lightning strike NOT = shortcircuit filter