Not My Day! or...Any Electricians Out There?

[Nightingale 0]

So, I go home for lunch. Usually home for lunch means relax and play with the kitties. Today, home for lunch meant dealing with 55 gallons of water and an unhappy electrical socket.

I get home, realize that the fish tank is about 3 inches low, and the filter is making loud waterfall noises because of it. So, I hook up the hose to the faucet, set it on low and begin to fill up the tank. Then my phone rings. I turn away to answer it, completely forgetting about the tank. I remembered when I hung up.

So, now I've got water everywhere and the electrical socket behind the tank is hissing. I'm guessing that's bad, but I can't get to the socket because the tank has 458.5 pounds of water in it, plus the weight of the tank itself and the hardwood dresser it's sitting on. No way in hell I can lift that.

Then I asked myself why the heck I have a 55 gallon fish tank full of water but no fish. Since I couldn't answer that question with any kind of logic whatsoever, I decided to drain the tank.

I've set up about 12 siphons sucking the water out of the tank, as bailing it out with a coffee cup didn't work very well, and it's about half empty now.

So, hopefully, in about an hour, I can get to the socket. However, I am clueless as to what to do with the socket once I can get to it.

So... what should I do?

(aside from giving up on the situation entirely and pouring myself a very strong pyrat rum and coke?)

[skydemon2 0]

If possible turn off the circuit breaker until it dries up.

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[MF42 0]

Quote

If possible turn off the circuit breaker until it dries up.

I second what he said.

And I just gotta ask...why do you have a huge fishtank and no fish?

Matt

[Nightingale 0]

Quote

Quote

If possible turn off the circuit breaker until it dries up.

I second what he said.

And I just gotta ask...why do you have a huge fishtank and no fish?

Ok. Breaker's off. Thank you both...I'd forgotten about that.

I have a huge fish tank with no fish because the last fish died and the noise the tank makes when the water's low is so annoying that I just kept adding water. It's almost empty now and will remain that way unless I decide to put a turtle or something in there.

[MF42 0]

Makes perfect sense to me.

Matt

[skydemon2 0]

does Turtlespeed know what you have in store for him?

Beauty is only skin deep, but ugly goes clean to the bone!

I like to start my day off with a little Ray of Soulshine™!!

[turtlespeed 226]

Quote

Quote

Quote

If possible turn off the circuit breaker until it dries up.

I second what he said.

And I just gotta ask...why do you have a huge fishtank and no fish?

Ok. Breaker's off. Thank you both...I'd forgotten about that.

I have a huge fish tank with no fish because the last fish died and the noise the tank makes when the water's low is so annoying that I just kept adding water. It's almost empty now and will remain that way unless I decide to put a turtle or something in there.

How YOU doin?

I'm not usually into the whole 3-way thing, but you got me a little excited with that. - Skymama
BTR #1 / OTB^5 Official #2 / Hellfish #408 / VSCR #108/Tortuga/Orfun

[squirrel 0]

dont put a turtle in there...they just stink! I used to work in a tropical fish store for about 6 years, so maybe i can help. I am also a general contractor, used to carry an electrical license too. let the recepticle dry out, use a fan to help....powered by another circuit of course. if you have a waterfall type filter, dont let the water level get low, this adds strain to the magnetic impeller, which will heat up, and basically wear faster....

________________________________
Where is Darwin when you need him?

[jasonRose 0]

When you are able to get to the outlet remove cover (with breaker turned off) and let air out. If you are handy with a screw driver replace the recep.

Some day I will have the best staff in the world!!!

[Nightingale 0]

well, now that the tank's empty, perhaps I will try a salt water system again. I ran a salt water system for a year or two in a 10 gallon tank (nightmare!) but I hear it's easier with a larger tank?

[MF42 0]

I always wanted to set up a big salt water tank, but never got motivated enough to actually do it. Those fish just look so great.

Matt