Scared about my fish tank filter

[drwhofan]

I've just bought a new tank and filter and have just started cycling it. I'm now having a panic because I'm very nervous about electrical appliances of pretty much any kind. I always make sure everything in my room is switched off before I leave the house, and I get so paranoid sometimes that something will have gone wrong and I'll come home to find a burnt out mess.

I realise that there are appliances in my house which are constantly switched on (Fridge, freezer etc) but that makes me feel no less worried about the filter. I think it's the whole mains electricity and water thing.

Can anyone help me out with any suggestions to make my filter as safe as humanly possible? (Or at least give me any information to put my mind at rest?) I've made sure I have a drip loop, as advised in the setup guide for the filter but I'm still really, really worried. I dread to think what I'll do when I have to go on holiday and leave it for a week at a time!

[drwhofan]

I should mention, this is a coldwater tank and it's just for a couple of goldfish. I've have goldfish before but just never had a filter.

[woofgang]

You could put an rcd plug in the wall socket and plug the filter plug into it. That won't help the fish if anything goes wrong but it will cut the power to the filter if it goes wrong. I am like you about electricity and water and use rcd's on my pond filter and all the garden stuff. Can I ask what you did with the old filter, why is the new one worrying you if the old one didn't ?

[pussnboots]

No need to worry, I have a tank and the filter is on all the time except when I clean the tank. The filter is very very low voltage less than a 5 watt bulb and they are made to be in water, that's what they do.

[askyourgran]

Woofgang he said he hadn't had a filter before just goldfish. drwho these things are sold ready for use, I would have thought that any filters or gadgets that are to be immersed in water would be reliably insulated against any accident. All you must do is follow the instructions for installing it correctly and making sure it is kept clean to ensure it is in good working order. Don;t worry too much. Just a thought who will feed the fish if you do go on holiday for a week at a time?

[pussnboots]

askyourgran, you can buy slow release food blocks for when you are away, the fish will be fine, the tank water may get a bit murky but other than that it's ok. Friends of mine with a tank go away for a month at a time and never lost a fish yet.

[askyourgran]

I didn't know that puss.

[pussnboots]

Yeh they are really good, the fish just nibble at them when they want to feed. Trouble with goldfish (carp family) they constantly forage for food it's their nature but on the other hand are quite ok to go for days without food they will suck gravel up and then spit it out just to get any left overs.

[RATTER15]

About the worst thing that could happen is if it became faulty, it would blow a fuse or trigger a trip switch. No worries!

[wildwood]

If it is driving you crazy (not a bad thing with electricity) you may want to look at a suitable filter that runs outside the tank with just an exit and input hose in the tank. They would be a bit more expensive though.

[jomifl]

If you have an external filter there is the possibility that all the water could syphon out.
Your filter should be powered from an isolating transformer, this means that the wiring going to the tank is not connected directly to the mains so is quite safe. If it doesn't have an isolating transformer ( It should say so on it) between the filter and the mains then get one that does.