Just An Announcment

[Lhutch]

i plugged in a power head to see if it worked and a little water dripped out onto the powerstrip, becareful when your doing electrical mainnence with fish tanks, and incase your wondering electricity running up your thumb and arm does feel like fire in your skin, dont make the same mistake i did and becareful, thanks

 

[dollfaced]

Ouch, I hope you are alright I always turn off everything and put the powerstrip up and away from my tank when I do anything to it.

 

[GuppyDude]

I've done something similar a couple times. I no longer have much feeling in my left middle finger. I learned the second time though.

 

[*Fishkies*]

I've done that only once and it wasn't to long ago. I thought I had all water cleaned up, but apperently not because I felt it.

 

[Tolak]

Get and install a GFI power strip, outlet, or breaker. These are standard electrical code items here for areas that have water, such as bathrooms or kitchens. They sense an imbalance in the electrical lines, and trip off in a few milliseconds, preventing electrocution. They are finally starting to sell the strips in a few lfs near me.

 

[MojoDex]

i was pruning a planted tank once and cut through my undergravel heating cable with my hands in the tank! i was very happy about the surge protection plug then

 

[CFC]

The odd minor electric shock is just part of the hobby, broken heaters are my favourite

 

[jayjay]

The odd minor electric shock is just part of the hobby, broken heaters are my favourite

Mr. Hankey should be your favourite

 

[Jabba]

Sound advice, infact it is also worth making sure all your cables and tubes have drip loops in them sothat if water does run down the cable it drips off the loop instead of running straight to the socket. It is worth covering anything related to water with an RCD breaker or plug.

We have the whole house covered by an RCD, OK you can still get a jolt that is uncomfortable but unlikely to be fatal (no I haven't tested it with my life by the way), the only downside is that it tripped even when a lightbulb blew, fortunately 98% of our bulbs are now low energy ones that don't.

The other downside is that if the power goes off RCD must be manually reset, not good when it is driving filters etc, I put the tank on an old computer UPS if we are away for too long i.e. holidays and a neighbour who is a Discus keeper checks twice daily.