GFCI tripped and lost a lot of water

[alton]

Hopefully we got to the root of the problem yesterday, we are thinking it may have been a heater? Maybe at the next LMAR Jason and I can do a demonstration of stray current in your tanks and the difference between stray voltage and current. Grounding probes, there benefits and the problems they can cause.

[Jasonb]

Hopefully we got to the root of the problem yesterday, we are thinking it may have been a heater? Maybe at the next LMAR Jason and I can do a demonstration of stray current in your tanks and the difference between stray voltage and current. Grounding probes, there benefits and the problems they can cause.

I like it.

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[leliataylor]

I would personally love to hear a presentation by Alton and Jason on stray current vs. voltage and how to troubleshoot it and prevent it. It is always nice to hear it from the experts.

[klwheat]

Not on the original topic (electrical in water) but an aside. If you're losing that much water when the return shuts down or power outage, you should probably think about redoing some plumbing. The sump should be able to hold whatever will overflow with pumps off. I'd be happy to help with this if you need.

[mkengr45]

Not on the original topic (electrical in water) but an aside. If you're losing that much water when the return shuts down or power outage, you should probably think about redoing some plumbing. The sump should be able to hold whatever will overflow with pumps off. I'd be happy to help with this if you need.

Agreed! Need to place one of your return nozzles closer to the surface so when you lose power and start to siphon back to the sump the siphon gets broken. I have dual overflows and 4 return nozzles....one nozzle is about half an inch below the water and whenever I lose power or do maintenance that shallow nozzle sucks in air and breaks the siphon so I don't get much water back in the sump.

Or use check-valves...but then that cost you some flow.

[klwheat]

Agreed! Need to place one of your return nozzles closer to the surface so when you lose power and start to siphon back to the sump the siphon gets broken. I have dual overflows and 4 return nozzles....one nozzle is about half an inch below the water and whenever I lose power or do maintenance that shallow nozzle sucks in air and breaks the siphon so I don't get much water back in the sump.

Or use check-valves...but then that cost you some flow.

Absolutely, break the siphon. One of my return nozzles is actually not even completely submerged (although close). My backflow is very minimal.
Also, remember check valves are just another piece of equipment. They can and do fail.



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[leliataylor]

Some of my returns are high enough up to break the siphon, although the returns I built myself have a small hole drilled in them above the water line. I then place a airline connector that has a plastic screw in the middle to adjust the airflow and screw them down tight enough water does not flow out of them , but air will enter them and break the siphon. Have a bunch of them laying around from my old maxi-jet powerheads and they work very well.