grounding a tank?

[dragonfish]

I've seen this product at my lfs, which consist of a wire that you plug into an electrical outlet (both prongs are plastic and the ground is the only metal part) on the other end is a titanium rod about 2 inches long which you place in the aquarium. Its supposed to give a good ground to the aquarium water inside. I was just wondering what are the benefits of this and are they really neccessary? I have two tanks, 60g and 40g, the first with mostly south american and african cichlids the other with all africans.

[andruboz]

i would guess it is purely precautionary. to make sure when you drop the light in the tank and jam your hand in to retrieve it, the current path to ground will have already been made. hopefully tripping the breaker.

and yes i have dropped the light in the tank before. the way my screwy house is wired, the bathroom gcfi outlet is on the same circuit, so it popped before the breaker in the main panel went.
dont know why the fish didnt die. must have not been zapped for very long.

i suppose it makes sense if the wiring in your house is really old, and you dont have a circuit breaker on the power strip all your tank stuff is plugged into. of course trusting a circuit breaker on a $2.50 kmart power strip is a gamble too.

please note i am not an electrician. worked as electronics tech a zillion years ago and have sat thru a dozen company electrical safety lectures.

[morleyz]

I usually just stick the tank in the corner and tell it not to come out until it has a better attitude.



Sorry, couldn't help myself.

[125gJoe]

This is from Dr. Foster Smith website: >>Pumps, powerheads, chillers, and other electrical devices may create voltage that causes fish health problems -- Lateral Line Disease, fin erosion, and gill deterioration. Just place Ultra-Ground in your tank or sump and hook it up to a grounded outlet. Includes 9" titanium ground, suction cup, 10' ground wire, and attachment eyelet..<<

Here's the link: DrsFosterSmith.com (http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_Display.cfm?siteid=6&pCatId=3946)

[125gJoe]

Here's a picture of what can happen without a ground probe!
http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/GroundProbe.jpg

Just kidding.... :D

I did find this link with more info: Ground Probes (http://avdil.gtri.gatech.edu/RCM/RCM/Aquarium/GroundingProbes.html)

[RTR]

But before you take seriously the info on Joe's ref, see the other thread on gronding probes that Joe started.