Electrical components must maintain isolation between the power lines
and ground to prevent popping the electrical circuit breaker in the
home (among other things). When electrical components are submerged
in water, there is a possibility of a small leak in the components
outer housing. This leak will manifest itself in a breaking down of
this isolation, and cause a high-impedence "short" between power and
ground. This "short" is enough to cause a small ammount of current to
flow, but not enough to trip the GFI. When you place your hand in the
water and your body is grounded somewhere, this current will flow
through you from the water (power) to ground. Whichever electrical
component is causing this problem, currently has enough resistance to
ground that the current flow is still small. If the isolation breaks
down further, the current flow will increase, and the GFI will trip
(if installed and working properly).
I would recommend replacing the bad component immediately. You
probably cannot afford to lose power to your aquarium for any length
of time, and certainly don't want to risk a stronger shock.
Timothy J. Forsythe
______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________
Subject: Re: [RML] Leaking current
Author: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au at smtp
Date: 1/28/97 7:37 PM
In regards to my query, I would not have noticed this problem had I
not had a cut on my hand. That being the case, just how serious is
this problem? Could this leak deteriorate to the point where I could
feel the shock cut or no cut? If so, at that point how bad of a shock
would it be? Would this be enough to trip the GFI? Remeber now you're
talking to a cabinet-maker here.
Chris
From ??? at ??? Sun Feb 02 00:09:33 1997
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From: ambush at unity.ncsu.edu
Message-Id: <199701291406.JAA11314 at cc04du.unity.ncsu.edu>
Subject: [RML] Congo Tetra (was Re: oxyeleotris)
To: rainbowfish at pcug.org.au
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 09:06:47 -0500 (EST)
In-Reply-To: <199701290529.VAA04907 at m9.sprynet.com> from "Roy Hunter" at Jan 28, 97 10:29:37 pm
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> Roy wrote:
>
>
> Any fish found outside Sahul may as well be a guppy for all I care! ;-P
>
> Well ok Congo tetras and clown loaches are the exception to the rule, well
> botias and synodontis are ok too!
>
Sorry for the non-rainbowfish question, but it is a fish question ;-)
I agree with Roy, the Congo tetra is a cool fish. I currently have a
male and a female and would like to try to breed them. Has anyone tried
this? and if so, how do you do it? I think I read that they are egg
scatters, but this is all I know about it.
Thanks
John Dowden