grounding probes, do we need them?

[Detritivore]

i was reading an old reef book, and it suggests grounding probes. i dont use one. is it needed?

[fkadir]

I do have 1 in my tank just in case there is a electricity leak. Is it needed? Not really but its there just in case a pump or any other electrical device develops a small leak etc etc. I have mine from Coralife and it basically plus into the earth of the electrical outlets. I would imagine it will trip the electrical supply if there is significant earth leakage?

I have also read that fishes can develop HLLE from these stray currents so better be safe than sorry in this case. HTH

[fkadir]

http://saltaquarium.about.com/cs/hea...a/aa040901.htm

Above link for info on HLLE/Stray currents. Look in 'Possible causes'..

[Detritivore]

yea, that was my main concerns. even though i dont have any fish as of now

[fkadir]

then its there to protect you instead of the fishes. You wouldnt want to be the earth for a leakage rite?

[Detritivore]

do you need one if you've already got a GFCI?

[cookie extreme]

i lived in the maldives for a while and on one island (ihuru) the owner was working together with some agency to improve coral growth (and to stabilise the island) with electric current. it looked pretty awesome with lots of sps growth on the new rockcone covered in fencing wire but have to admit that i didn't go back for a second look. but ever since i do have a grounding probe

[wasp]

Did wonder about that myself, saw an article recently where in Indonesia at a coral farm they were speeding coral growth by electrifying a steel grid.
So if I stick my finger in one of my frag tanks I sometimes get a tingle. But should I do anything about it? well I don't know, it may be doing more good than harm.
The HLLE link is suspected but not proved. BTW HLLE is a disease of the past, I've never heard of a case for years. I think it was caused by old fashioned poor husbandry methods.