Grounding Tank

[gizmo001i]

Hi,
I have just read an article about grounding your tank to improve tank conditions and to remove any stray low voltages that may effect the fish. In the article they suggest using a titanium wheel spoke to stop any interaction with the water. Has anyone else heard about this and what does everyone think. Has anyone tried it and if so, has it caused any problems. I can easily see the benefits of grounding a tank for everyones safety, but have never heard of it improving the tank conditions. So any feedback would be very interesting.
Many thanks
Ian

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. I have heard of people being killed as a result of electrocution from putting their hands in the tank water. That is why most electrical equipment that you buy has a warning about this on the packaging, and most reccomend unplugging this type of equipment before doing any tank maintenance. The reason why the fish don't get electrocuted even when there is enough electricity in the water to kill a human is because the fish themselves aren't grounded, but people are. I think there is more danger to humans than to fish on this topic.

 

[Durbkat]

Why would there by electricty in a tank for? Do you mean like if you were vacum cleaning the tank and the water level went below the heater and the heater zapped you or what?

 

[gizmo001i]

No, it apparentely is due to electricity being induced into the water from the cables and equipment used. Now I am an electrical engineer and as far as I can work out, yes you may get a little electricity induced into the water within a few millimeters of the cable/equipment. But if you fit an earth to the tank water, then you will be making a circuit for the induced current to flow through the water. The main reason i posted this topic was to see if anyone has done this and if it had made any difference to their fish. You never know with nature when it is going to bite you in the bum and prove you wrong lol.

 

[Durbkat]

Oh well there are no electrical wires in my tank water so I don't have to worry about that.

 

[haplover]

I think this would also include heaters. Not all heaters have an automatic shut off in the case of the glass housing cracking. If that should happen then it would make perfect sense to ground your tank since there would be electric current going directly into the water. It may have actually saved my brothers fish. (don't ask)