Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

Here, min the US, extension cords cannot be installed permanently. If a permanent installation is needed, it must be according to the Local code.

GFCIs should be tested monthly. You can use the 'TRIP' button for that.

Disconnect the load side of the GFCI, including anything plugged into it. If the unit is working(tripping on @ off using the buttons, and remains on when not, it's working.

If you need to run anything on that line, get a portable GFCI, or an extension cord with an attached GFCI and use it.

Sometimes a GFCI installed on the load side of another GFCY can trip. The fix is to move the line attached to the last unit from the load side of the first unit to the "IN" side of the first unit. Now the first unit will be operating as before but the power to the end unit will bypass it and be fed from the breaker directly.

Some fish can tolerate conditions that others can't. Koi are healthier with nitrates below 10 and 40 is considered too high.

If you are raising fish for long periods, not dumping water will cause problems. Even if you're not concerned with nitrates, TDS will rise as water evaporates and leaves the dissolved minerals behind. I use a TDS of the incoming water's TDS + 100 as a guide to change. Food fish won't be in their environment long so their living conditions aren't as demanding.

I haven't seen much success using Koi because the nitrates are kept low, but veg filters are helpful as media(the roots) and they do pull out some nitrogen and heavy metals.

I appreciate what I see here! In the Koi hobby, people trying this tend to be 'doing it a little' but this is your main purpose. I'll be back; I just signed on and already learned a little.

Rich L

Hey Rich welcome to the forum!

Two systems using Koi (at least) you might be impressed by would be Web4Deb and Ryan 's systems. They both use Koi. In AP you don't ever need to dump water, only top it up. (Assuming you have enough filtration and plants)

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Hi Rich, in most of our systems there are plants being removed from the system. It's anything but a closed loop, and salts are always exiting.

A few weeks after I salted my system with sea salt, I harvested some celery that was inedible because it had picked up so much salt. Lot's of salts and minerals leave my system every day.

GFIs can be fussy for sure... whenever I run a long extension cord to our camper it trips the GFI. All systems have been tested out OK and sparky said that it's likely just the long run. They're sensitive for a reason .

Odds are that the wire feeding the quad that killed the mouse was overloaded and is now shorted somewhere. That, or it has overloaded the breaker that feeds it and it is throwing inconsistant voltage and causing the GFCI to trip. I would replace the outlets in the quad box as well as they may be burnt and shorted. I can assure you that the first time you stick your hand in electrified water you will have restored faith in GFCI's...if you live to learn from it.

Yep, I would NOT recommend going without a GFCI...

We have GFIs on all our outlets that are near water (kitchen and bathroom). We haven't updated the rest of our outlets because my husband didn't like the thought of them drawing power all the time.

I'm not aware that GFI's pull any power...

In the US, we run 120v but I plan on putting in a 240v pump. Do they make 240v GFI's? Or do you put one on each leg of the 240?

How does it test the outlet if it doesn't use power?

See http://home.howstuffworks.com/question117.htm

The link didn't say if they draw power.

If you google "does a GFCI outlet draw power" you'll get plenty of hits saying they do draw power. Yes it may only be milliamps or like 2 watts. I think some have an LED indicator light so they clearly do draw power.

Here is the evolution of the code BTW:
NEC GFCI requirements (and effective date):

Underwater pool lighting (since 1968)

Receptacles:
Outdoors (since 1973)
Bathrooms (since 1975)
Garages (since 1978)
Kitchens (since 1987)
Crawl spaces and unfinished basements (since 1990)
Wet bar sinks (since 1993)
Laundry and utility sin
ks (since 2005)
Also consider portable GFCI protection:

Whenever operating electrically-powered garden equipment (mower,
hedge trimmer, edger, etc.)

With electric tools (drills, saws, sand
ers, etc.) for do-it-y
ourself work in and
around the house

Coming home from vacation I went into my Dad's basement. Stepped into 2 feet of water from water heater that failed. There were 5 AC airplane chargers and radios hooked to power chargers sitting on the floor. I would have been fried if GFCIs hadn't worked.