Serious Stray Voltage

[LauraFrog]

I dunno if tank stats will really help here... 22 gal brackish (1.005-1.006) with mollies and platys, some juvenile rainbows and a kribensis.

The tank had REALLY bad problems with black beard algae. I got seriously sick of it so I decided an overhaul was in order. I stripped down the tank - 100% WC - and took out everything. The plants had all been smothered and I had to chuck them. The BBA was all over everything, so I bleached it. I put the tank back together with none of the original stuff in it except the gravel and equipment, then I put in some cheap plastic ornaments and put the fish back in. Then I covered the whole thing with blankets to smother the algae, though admittedly it hasn't had much effect on it. I looked in two or three times.

When I pulled off the blankets today I realised I had lost two platys. Both of them were extremely old and one had advanced cancer, so I wasn't surprised that the stress had been too much for them. When I put my hand in to remove the bodies, I got an electric shock. I thought 'well that's weird' (It had never happened before) then I unplugged all the equipment, drained half the water out, put the fish in buckets and rescaped the whole tank. The original decor all stank of bleach, so I figure it's not a good idea to use it just yet... I've completely redone the tank. Looks quite good actually, but anyway.

I plugged all the equipment back in after positioning it and pinged off for half an hour to let the water settle. I came back, replaced the fish, and saw a bit of gunk floating around. Put in my hand to shift it - and yeowch, got a hell of a shock. The only equipment on the tank is an overrated internal power filter (which is still inside warranty and has been running in that tank for about six months) and an undergravel filter driven by an air pump. I figured it had to be the filter because the air pump does not have any electrical parts contacting the water. So I unplugged it and put my hand in the tank - nothing. Plugged it back in, touched the water, I got shocked again.

I have left the filter unplugged because I think it's a safety hazard - I don't particularly feel like electrocuting half my family, burning down the house or killing all my fish. The undergravel is fully cycled and should be enough to deal with the current fish load, which is not even close to fully stocked. I don't know what to do though... my only spare filters are tiny, and I don't know what's wrong with the one that's in there... could this have killed off my old platys? I'll be pretty upset if that's the case. Stryker was one of my first fish, and very, very special.

Any help would be really appreciated - I have no idea what's wrong. What the hell is causing this and what do I do?

 

[Spishkey]

if its still inside warranty i would take it back and explain the problem? or perhaps give the makers a call/email?
rip poor fishies

 

[B13]

OK, as an engineer, my first words are:

DO NOT MESS WITH ELECTRICITY (and water)!!!!

It can kill you! So yeah, take the filter back to the shop where you bought it and/or call the manufacturer. If it's less than a year old, it's still under it's year warranty/guarantee. Their product killed your fish through no fault of your own, so demand compensation.

Do NOT put it back in the tank and also, don't power it up outside of the tank and prod it or attampt to fix it!!



I've had 'belts' from faulty electrical goods over the years and it's DAMNED unpleasant!!

 

[Straydum]

my old internal powerhead use to do that. whenever i plug it in and touched the water it was like static. akin to those fake bubble gum or pencil prank shocks its surprising really that my six angels lived in there together with a cory. better get the faulty equipment out of the way and replaced

 

[LauraFrog]

Fortunately I caught it before it killed all the fish - only two fatalities, and like I said, those platys were dying anyway. (But STRYKER? Oh, baby. I'll miss you girl. )

It's still sitting in the tank unplugged to keep the media wet. I have a spare powerhead - it's ridiculously big but I'm going to use it anyway. I think I'll fake up a HOB filter. I like faking stuff up. It's cheaper.

The filter is a cheap one from a department store. I might still have the box, but not the proof of purchase. The warranty return is on the box. Should it go directly back to the company or to the store? I'm glad you guys think I'm within my rights to spack about this, I've lost two of my favourite fish presumably from this and who knows what's gunna happen to the tank cycle...

 

[7755matt]

I dont think you need proof of purchase to get a replacement for faults? I thought that was only for a refund.

 

[pie]

My water was cloudy for a while. I kept changing water and cleaning the gravel and the water was clear. I'd try doing the same.

 

[Schmill]

If it's under a year old take it back to where you bought it, I believe it is there responsibility for products under a year old.

If you don't have one get an RCD from B&Q or similar and fit it to any electrical equipment that goes in your tank. It's a similar thing that you use (or should), on the plug of an electric lawnmower. Basically it will shut off the electricity if there is a problem, in theory stopping you killing yourself!

To be honest, I don't think the electricity would have killed the fish, (although it could you). Water conducts electricity pretty well, but electricity is 'lazy' and will take the easiest path all the time. If a wire is exposed to the water then the water is 'exposed' to electricity, however as there is no circuit made that would include the water, the flow of electricity stays nicely in the wires and motor of your internal filter. However, when YOU touch the water you make a nice circuit connection between the water and ground, so some of the electricity now decides it's a nicer route to come away from the wires of the normal circuit, travel through the water to your hand, then through you to ground. THIS is why you get a shock. It's also the reason that the fish are unlikely to have died from it. Although the fish are IN the water, unless they actually manage to be in the path of the circuit they won't be affected by it.

Oh yeah, and again, get an RCD