Do I Need A Circuit Breaker?

[Ih3artfish]

Hi everyone,

I'm new to posting on this forum but I've been reading all the great information you guys post over the last couple of weeks.

I'm setting up my first tank this weekend and I've got the basics: tank, light, heater (I'll get the rest when I go pick up substrate/plants/water reader etc). I mentioned to my friend what I was planning and he told me that I need to get a circuit breaker because lots of people get electrocuted from their tanks.

He told me that whenever I check the water, to use the back of my hand because if I get a shock my hand's reflex will be towards me and not into and smashing the tank.

I'm a little freaked out about it now, I didn't realise fish keeping was so dangerous! Is it common to get shocks from your tank and if so, can you recommend anything to prevent it happening?

 

[LZ-DEN]

hello,if your not sure..you could add a RCB,although i have been keeping fish for the past 39 years and so far i have never had any problems with electric shock...maybe im just one of the lucky ones,but as i said to ease your own mind add a RCB if you feel it will help you.

 

[Aquascaper]

I have one on my reef tank but only because it has a sump so actual running water that could overflow, etc. Never used one on any of the tropical tanks though.

It's not strictly necessary but would depend partly on where your sockets are and how many pieces of equipment, etc.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi everyone,

I'm a little freaked out about it now, I didn't realise fish keeping was so dangerous! Is it common to get shocks from your tank and if so, can you recommend anything to prevent it happening?

lol, its not fishkeeping, its fishkeepers who are dangerous.

it, from my experience and from my years here, is VERY uncommon to get an electric shock from your tank.
and the RCD would have "popped" on your consumer unit, at the same time as any you fitted inline.

in houses most sockets are about 4 inches plus off of the floor.
so providing you use "drip loops" only broken lights and smashed heaters are likely to cause problems.
and again they should POP your RCD anyway.

truth is fishkeeping is only really dangerous for the fish we keep.

 

[cartandpeg]

I run a residual current device on mine,portable one that I had for the shed,only because I am paranoid and I have a very curious little Granddaughter.

 

[LZ-DEN]

the 2 posts above...spot on chaps.

 

[iantaylor]

I've never used one either,
your consumer unit will trip first if theres a problem
as that recently happened on my redtail catfish tank as he cracked a heater and it turned the whole house off

 

[raptorrex]

I've never used one either,
your consumer unit will trip first if theres a problem
as that recently happened on my redtail catfish tank as he cracked a heater and it turned the whole house off

in the UK, anyway, each plug and item will have a fuse.
more often than not, so will the extension they are plunged into.
and the extensions will have a plug on the end with a fuse in too.
along with your RDC's (consumer unit)everything is already covered.

mind you, I'd always fit an RDC to an extension that leads outside.
even if only because its the law here.

"drip loops" save the gear more than save you from any shocks.
but, as water is bad at going up hill, they are often the best defence.

 

[tribalbrit]

Here's the problem I have and posted some while ago

So I was messing in the tank the other day and caught my wet arm on the overhead light unit and got a shock off of it. I spoke to an electrician friend of mine and he came today and checked it out.
There is no problem with the lighting unit as first thought however, and this is the funny bit (not) When the water was tested there was a live current present,
Now in the actual tank are 3 koralia pumps, and 2 power heads. When turning these off one by one the current dropped by 5 or 6 volts each time.
Meaning that each item is leaking power into the actual tank.

Has anyone else had this problem? If so how do you stop it happening?

I know you are supposed to switch everything off before sticking your hands in but I'm sure we are all guilty of not doing especially if we are just doing a quick tidy up.

If you add it up there is approximately 30 volts of electricity in my water, I will now switch everything off before sticking my hands in there.
This is only a problem if I touch the light unit while my hands are in the water, thus earthing the tank water.

 

[LZ-DEN]

i see,thats interesting...i have 2 powerheads and the heater-stat in the water..the lighting unit is 4 striplights and because the body of the striplights is ali its earthed,(the starter units go in the top of the light unit with 2 switches on top)..i have had my hands in the tank many times and for long periods without any tingling or shocks,in your case could the items that your using in the tank be old?..could the wiring be past its best?..electricity never misses a chance to go to earth by whatever path it can.so im wondering if your electric current is leaking through the mains wire to the items in the tank or light unit.good luck

 

[tribalbrit]

All items are less than two years old.

I have had everything tested, twice and the conclusion is that each item leaks a small amount into the tank.

I now switch off the power when doing anything major.

 

[LZ-DEN]

i see..2 years is not long to have such equipment.well i think your doing the right thing by switching things off before placing your hands in the tank.

 

[bodge99]

Hello All..

Sorry, but **anyone** who is relying on fuses or even a RCD or any other type of earth leakage / MCB current device for total safety is delusional!!

A fuse is fitted to **protect** the wiring supplying the device.. i.e. so a short circuit will not cause a fire. An MCB is a better, more modern equivalent.

An RCD detects a current imbalance between live/neutral... It will isolate the supply under fault conditions.

These devices are generally very very good and have decreased the overall electrocution/fire risk immensely.

However, these devices are (or are partly) electromechanical in nature... It is **not** unknown for mechanical devices to fail.

These devices are supposed to be tested regularly... When did **YOU** last test your RCD??

PLEASE keep these safety devices for the purposes that they were designed for - i.e. safety in emergency fault conditions etc..

Not all potentially lethal circumstances can be guarded against with these devices so why chance it??

Get your safety devices tested and treat electricity with respect. It only takes 50 mA (thousandths of an Ampere) or so to kill you (under the right conditions).

Water and electricity don't mix, so **please** turn off the electricity supply to your tanks before you stick your arm in etc.

I'd strongly recommend the use of an RCD with **anything**..

Be safe..

 

[Ih3artfish]

Thanks for all the info guys, it's reassuring to know it's not a common occurrence!
As a beginner it's really great to hear from experienced keepers, so I really appreciate all your advice.

 

[LZ-DEN]

pleasure.. ....its a great hobby,