Yikes! Total tank shut down

sorry kinda skimmed over everything, do you have stuff split between 2 power strips and 2 different outlets?
depending upon the wiring of the breaker as I think someone said, usually each outlet is capable of 15 amps... the wattage can vary, but once you stress the amps per outlet, then you'll wind up experiencing what you're describing...
then if it trips between 2 separate strips in 2 separate outlets, try 3 to 3...
I often have 5-10 computers running with 5-10 monitors so ya, been there.. lol
if you have to use an extension cord, try to use a larger gauge wire, the orange outside extension cords will work for getting stuff plugged in in another outlet on the other side of the room...

 

Iw would check and max sure your pumps aren't going bad and have a small leak of electricity or even a heater going bad. Household GFIs are meant to trigger at a very low voltage, which makes them harder to use on fish tank and anything that tends to leak voltage such as dishwashers and garbage disposals. If you have a plug in that's not GFI try it.

 

Yeah, you most likely have too much amperage on the same circuit. If you can drop a MH, then you should be OK until you can get it fixed. I have an electrican friend who is helping me with my planning, and he is running 3 circuts from a new panel to the tank location....a different outlet means nothing; it must be on a different circut to be able to handle the load. You can be certain if you have a multimeter about; it will tell you the exact amperage draw. Any electrician will have that if you don't have one. If you live in the IC/CR area, I know an electrician that is smoking good and has recently studied up on aquariums. PM me and I'll toss you his info. He is liscensed and all that good stuff to boot.

 

i definately would unplug the resun wave makers and see if that helps, i have heard of them shorting out and that would make your GFI trip, also had a heater break on me before and cause my stuff to trip

 

McClandy and I are both electricians although Andy has MUCH more recent experience than I. I am a programmer now.
Anyway, I skimmed sort of fast Lyndsay. Are things staying on now? With the same amount plugged into them??
I think you said you had to use red reset button on the GFI. GFI's can definitely go bad, but they can also detect what they were made to detect, leaks of energy. If any insulation on a pump or heater (I guess you aren't using any) are leaking electricity this can kick it. So, you said you plugged one thing in at a time. Did any one thing kick the GFI? If so, unplug everything and plug just that in. Does it kick again? If so, get rid of that one thing.
If things are holding now on another outlet but still kick the GFI, then the GFI is most likely bad. If it isn't one thing kicking it.
If you were running for 6 months then you most probably don't need more amperage although you may be running close. Read the wattage off of each device and we can give you a better idea. Your lights are you biggest draw and will pull a little over 4 amps and we will assume you are on a 15 amp breaker so you 10 amps to spare. Pumps very greatly on their wattage but from the size of your tank and the usual size pump I doubt that anything you have draws 1 amp each but you need to check them out. If you know what pumps they are you can look them up online instead of pulling them out. You may be OK on power draw.
I may have missed a finer detail as I read quickly. Hopefully this helps out. Andy or anyone please correct me if I mis-stated anything.

 

I am suprised that you didn't have any problems up to this point. It is pretty easy to create a dedicated outlet to the tank itself. I have wired a 30A circuit to my tank and have two sets of outlets for that breaker. Much safer and you can use a gfi on that to keep things safe. Check out the web (thisoldhouse.com ?)

 

I really am not thinking you have a load problem. It is looking like a bad GFI Outlet. There are arguments out there on whether or not to use GFI's. Some have had the problem you have had only they weren't home or on vacatiopn and lost everything because of a bad GFI. I don't use them (on my tanks) for this reason. What I would do is have your brother in-law install a regular outlet. Then do the load calculation to see if you are close to 15 amps, actually 80% is sort of a rule of thumb to split a circuit.
As far as the extension cord, the Home Depot guy is exaggerating if you get a good cord minimum of 14 gauge wire. Yes if you plug everything into one of those brown lamp extension cords have the fire department standing by. If the cord is longer than 25 foot I would go with 12 gauge which gets expensive. BUT, using an extension cord does increase the risk of fire, but it is far from a certainty. I have used good extension cords for years as I am guessing a large a number of aquarists do as well.