[nanoreef11]

I had a GFCI adapter on my fish tank plugged into the wall like this one Product Information Error Page and when the power went out and I wasn't home the tank didn't turn back on. I know that I had to push the button back in but my question is do I need to have the GFCI to SAFELY run my fish tank. Can I just have a power strip with a surge protector rated less than my breaker and run drip loops?

[pogodzib]

Many aquarists that aren't as involved as most reef keepers and have standards FO or freshwater aquariums don't use GFCI outlets. A power strip with a surge protector will prevent your equipment from getting damaged during a power surge, but it won't protect YOU if something falls into the tank or a chord's coating cracks and creates a electrical current in your tank. With the high powered lighting, large pumps, large heaters, and so forth that we run on our reef tanks, I wouldn't run them, or any other tanks of mine, without a GFCI outlet.

[nanoreef11]

What about a ground probe instead?

Aquarium Safety: Ultra-Ground Titanium Probe

[unclejed]

That's what I use.

[pogodzib]

Ground probes have been a major point of controversy over the years. Some people say that they help eliminate stray voltage. Other people say that they complete a loop and can make stray voltage worse. You'd think that with meters, you'd be able to test stray voltage with and without a grounding probe to know what the correct answer really is, but people get varying results for some odd reason. I used to use them, but I don't anymore. Either way, I wouldn't trust them to protect you against getting electrocuted. They are a really small wire meant to handle small stray voltage to protect the tank's inhabitants from prolonged exposure to electrical current. They can't handle anywhere near the same current as standard household wires and wouldn't save you if something with a lot of watts, such as a light fixture, fell into your tank or a heater broke and malfunctions when your hand is in their.

[nanoreef11]

I am thinking the GFCI will just backfire again with a power outage.

[nanoreef11]

I understand that the probe is for stray voltage and the GFCI is a better/safer option.

What do I do if I had the GFCI plugged into the wall and a power outage occurs and I am not home?

This has happened before and I am curious if there is an option instead of hooking up a battery backup pump and have it constantly blowing oxygen throughout my tank.

[ianizaguirre]

just use a surge protetor my tank had overflown once and the water spilled on it and it shut off with a small fire but thank GOD nothing happened plus the equitment did not brake haha

[nanoreef11]

With a power strip/surge protector how did it shut off? It wasn't GFCI was it?

[ianizaguirre]

no i had it conncected to the wall and ( the water) it did not hit the surge directley only were the suge was connected to the wall like the socket part and it went on fire AND I WAS NOT EVEN HOME!!!!!!!!!! but when i came home it turned out that the box short circuted from the water and all the electrcity was shut off to the strip so i am wondering if theres a plug i can get that wont shut of or something if water touches it ??? cause the house almost burnt down !!!!!!!!!!!!

[nanoreef11]

oh dang you are really lucky. How did your tank over flow? auto top off?

[ianizaguirre]

cause i had a hang on refugium

( an ecoosyteam pro 60 which cost like 430 but i found it for 300)

and it had cheto in it but me not knowing i out a powerhead in and it broke the cheato into peaces and me not knowing again being stupid had put a sponge were it was not spoosed to right in the return pump so the cheto got loose when i was not home and the sponge prevented water from getting back into the tank ( with the blocked cheto in the way) my parents almost killed me ( am 16)

[nanoreef11]

I know for a fact my parents would have been pissed if that happened with my tank. I am going to be installing an ATO but I might only use it when I am home like manually turn it on and off till I get a good sense that it is safe.

Any responses to the GFCI question about what to do with a power outage?

[ianizaguirre]

ATO whats that ?

[nanoreef11]

auto top off

[firstadam2k]

All i can say on the subject of stray current it hurts a lot when its a whole 120 my overflow stopped three weeks ago while my hand was in the tank it overflowed onto the power strip. man talk about pain oh whell unfortionitly i am still alive and will be getting gfci as soon as possible.

[demonsquirt]

THey are a good idea but if its overloaded and this happens then it could cause the trip.

Either get a better surge protecter or use two to lower the load.