Timer/electrical protection

[hypoxia]

Okay. So last night the skimmer outlet to my tank got partially plugged up (it was a weird fluke thing) and the skimmer overflowed, causing water to run everywhere, including the power strip. I was suffering from insomnia and the only reason we didn't die in our sleep from an electrical fire is that I smelled something burning at 3 a.m. The power strip is completely melted and was smouldering by the time I found it.

This has put such a bad scare into me that I need to get advice from y'all about good power strips and what kind of protection your tanks have from impending disaster. What about the Coralife Power Center? Anything else, other than re-situating electrical cords and such?

I have a 35-gallon w/ a Bak-PakII currently, with no real room for a sump.

[mtfatwork]

first of replacethe outlet with a gfci outlet. After that I would suggest mounting the power strip on the wall, and making sure you have drip loops on everything plugged in.

[Frogbone]

GFI.....GFI....GFI......GFI...... !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

All circuits around water HAVE TO BE protected by a GFI.

Again....GFI...GFI...GFI ;)

Mendards, Homedepot etc. have them.

[hypoxia]

The crappy thing is that I did have drip loops set up. I'm wondering if the new cat wedged his way behind the tank and disturbed the setup (he's young and VERY curious about every little thing).

[hypoxia]

Would you recommend something like this: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?pcatid=14702&Ntt=gfci&Ntk=All&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=0&Nty=1

[hypertech]

I'd think you would want to just change the outlet to something like this:

http://www.lowes.com/lowes/lkn?action=productDetail&productId=177649-334-9506WS&lpage=none

At least that's what I'm planning on doing to the outlet where I am going to put my tank.

[hypoxia]

Can't change the outlet because we rent.

[storrisch]

you could change it temporarily.

[hypertech]

Yeah, change for your use and just put it back before you move out.

The other one you pointed out is better than nothing, but it won't protect the connection where you plug that strip into the outlet.

[brandon l]

Can't change the outlet because we rent.

Would your landlord like his income producing property to burn down? He might be all for changing out that receptacle to a GFCI to help protect his investments (you and the residence). And you might even get him to pay for it, who knows!

[wkjames]

I use Belkin Power strips, just like for my computer. They are the least expensive among the higher end strips on the market. I believe they are on sale at Microcenter this week. (Hwy 100 and 36th in St. Louis Park, next to Burlington Coat Factory) Any brand designed for computer use will be very different from the cheap ones you can buy almost anywhere. The clamping threshold will be low and very fast. I also agree that plugging into a GFCI outlet is key. I suspect your landlord won't mind that you are adding an upgrade from his 39cent outlet to an 8 dollar GFCI. If you're concerned, ask. If you're offering to do the work and spend the money, why would they turn you down? The wall mount is also really important. Try to mount it on something that is not the stand for your tank, so an overflow doesn't run down the tank, then stand, and into your power strip. A second option if you use a metal frame stand that is open to the tank glass on the bottom is to use adhesive velcro and stick it to the bottom center of the tank itself. The lip around the bottom edge of the tank will provide drip protection for your strip, and allows the cord to make a natural drip loop.