Voltage problems...maybe

I have been having problems with fish dying for no apparent reason. People said to check the voltage..good idea. I got a voltage meter and cheked it. It said 89!!!! I don't think this is possible. I must be doing something wrong. Can anyone help me out on doing this correctly. I put it on 600 on the red V side. and put the black probe in the ground hole on an electrical outlet and the red probe in water. I unplugged everything to see if I could find the problem but the voltage stayed the same. So I must be doing it wrong. Thanks for the help

 

I think the 89 means 8.9...I'm not sure..anybody?

 

Ok, the first question is what do you mean by "no apparent reason"? Have you tested everything? Ammonia, nitrites, nitrates, calcium, pH, salinity, alk, phos, copper, and maybe even some trace stuff?

have you seen any sign of disease or parasites?

If you still suspect voltage, make sure you check it propely. Do not use such a high range when the absolute most voltage you could have is 120? (or maybe 220)

Put the meter on 200V AC and check again. If it displays a voltage lower than the next lower voltage range switch it down lower. Make sure it's on AC and not DC, this is critical. Unless you have 12v DC power heads or other DC driven devices of course, but at 12V ... not really an issue.

89 _IS_ possible if you have a leak, but with the power off, you should have less than 10v inducted... are you sure everything is off? lights, heaters, PH's, everything?

At at the 600V range 89 means 89.

If you're not sure you know how to use a voltmeter find someone near you who does.

-Doug

 

I would start here:
http://www.3reef.com/forums/asap/asap-please-start-here-54456.html

It will make this easier.
You could fill a bucket or bath tub and cross check ...as It would be 0.

 

Yeah everything is in check parameter wise. I don't have a test for copper but have one for pretty much everything else. I mean I can't see why it would be a water problem. 'm not ruling it out but I tried this and was like whoa. SO I tested it at 200 and it said 8.9 which sounds right. Is this an excessive amount of voltage in the water? I don't know. I'm getting a grounding probe tomorrow either way. I cannot find the source of the electricity

I don't see signs of parasites. No skin problems on fish anyway.

 

8.9 is nothing but noise and nothing to worry about. If it was 89 you would feel a shock when you put your hand in the water.

Jack

 

Thanks Jack. Yeah I don't feel a shock when I put hands in the water that is for sure. Now if that isn't the problem then I have to find out what else could be causing the issues.