I got zapped!!!!!!!!!

[Firebelle_uk]

I got an electric shock from one of my tanks today. I'm pretty sure I'm not doing anything wrong, and I think it was just due to the fact that maybe the equipment I bought (secondhand) was slightly faulty. I think there may have been some sort of slight leak in the heater/filter. Fortunately the shock I received was pretty mild, and just left me feeling a bit hot, sweaty and a bit shaken for a while, with pins and needles in my hand. Still it was a very uselful lesson in that it certainly made me aware very early on that water and electricity are not good mates, even when you think things are safe. In future I'm gonna switch everything oiff for a few minutes if I have to do anything in the tank.
At least the fish were ok I guess they were insulated by the glass .

 

[Tokis-Phoenix]

Take the heater out, more than anything else they only shock you when the glass has cracked- when it does this the heater won't work anymore. What is the current temp in the tank?

 

[trace1]

ouch bet that shocked ya sorry couldn't help it. glad to hear you n ya fish are ok thou. been lucky so far never had a shock of my tanks 'touches wood'

 

[piper]

You need to be grounded to get a shock, thats why your fish are fine. But i hope people read this and learn from it, so many accidents happen from people cutting corners in life.

Lets hope its not just you who can learn from this experience!

Ps glad to hear your okay

 

[jkrekord]

glad to hear you are alrite at least you learnt a lesson i suppose

 

[WILDER]

Glad you are or right, did the shock happen in the water, as fish can get bent spines through electrical shocks.

 

[Firebelle_uk]

I don't really understand much about electricity. Basically this morning I had noticed a couple more babies in the tank because it had my guppies and swordtails in it and got them out with no problem. Then I saw another one and went to move the weed to catch it and that's when I got the shock. I guessed the fish were ok because of the glass. I have though of something I think will be a good idea, I'm going to get a rubber bath mat to sit/stand on when I'm attending the tanks, so even if I am unlucky again it will offer me some protection. Of course the family think it was hilarious now they know I'm definitely ok and keep making silly comments like most people fry the fish not themselves, and why can't I stick to conventional cooking methods... ha, ha, ha! lol

 

[mattbeau]

I'm definitely ok and keep making silly comments like most people fry the fish not themselves, and why can't I stick to conventional cooking methods... ha, ha, ha! lol

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same thing happened to me when I drained the tank during a hefty water change on a small tank, the heater cracked because of the heat and I didnt notice, next time I put my hand in the water I got zapped

 

[Tolak]

Get a power strip with a ground fault interrupter, it could be a lifesaver. If you're handy, install a GFI outlet.

I'm surprised more lfs don't carry or reccommend those sort of things. I mentioned it to one of the local shops I do most of my business with, they had them in within a couple of weeks.

Tolak