Testing for stray voltage in aquarium

[aquabot]

I've been noticing my fish acting skittish lately, and I suspect stray voltage might be the issue. How do you guys test for it in your tanks? I've got a 55 gallon with a Fluval canister filter, sand substrate, and a mix of live plants. Water params are good, 0 ammonia, 0 nitrite, 5 nitrate. Temp's steady at 78.

[lanky_bark]

Stray voltage can definitely mess with your fish. I use a multimeter to check for it. Just set it to AC voltage, stick one probe in the water, and ground the other. If you get a reading above 0.5V, it's worth investigating. Also, check your heater and pump for leaks. Had a similar issue last year with my Eheim heater.

[coralina]

Yo, that's sketchy af. My betta was acting weird too, turns out my cheapo heater was leaking voltage. Switched to a Cobalt and it's all good now. Gonna check my other tanks just in case. You got any grounding probes? They're like $10 and can help if you can't fix the source right away.

[Mist]

Stray voltage can definitely mess with your fish. I use a multimeter to check for it. Just set it to AC voltage, stick one probe in the water, and ground the other. If you get a reading above 0.5V, it's worth investigating. Also, check your heater and pump for leaks. Had a similar issue last year with my Eheim heater.

Yep, multimeter's the way to go. I'd also unplug equipment one by one while testing to pinpoint the culprit. Sometimes it's the pump or even a faulty light.

[mysti]

my tank's got the same vibe rn. fish dartin around like crazy. gonna borrow a multimeter from my buddy. if it's the heater, imma just cut it and get a new one. no way im risking my discus.

[aquabot]

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll grab a multimeter tomorrow and start testing. Hopefully it's not the Fluval filter, that thing's only a year old. I'll update once I figure it out.

[lanky_bark]

Yo, that's sketchy af. My betta was acting weird too, turns out my cheapo heater was leaking voltage. Switched to a Cobalt and it's all good now. Gonna check my other tanks just in case. You got any grounding probes? They're like $10 and can help if you can't fix the source right away.

Grounding probes are a solid temporary fix, but I'd still track down the source. Voltage leaks can worsen over time and damage equipment. Also, make sure your tank's not near any power strips or cords. EMF interference can sometimes cause false readings.

[Mist]

If you're using a power strip, try plugging the heater directly into the wall. I've seen cases where cheap strips introduce noise. Also, check your GFCI outlets—they can trip if there's a ground fault, but sometimes they don't catch small leaks.

[coralina]

true that. my old place had sketchy wiring, and my tanks were always acting up. moved to a newer building, and it's been chill. sometimes it's the house, not the gear.