Question! when you do aquarium work with bare hand

[ppartha5]

Well,

We all put our hands in the tank when we move rock, corals or cleaning or to catch fish.

Normally these winter days we apply moisturizer to our hands.

For some reason if we forgot to wash our hands before doing the aquarium work what will happen to the water quality pertaining the moisturizer has dangerous chemicals that would potentially kill the corals.

The reason I am asking is after taking bath when ever I do a water change I see some corals dying. Either my hands has soap stains from shower or my moisturizer kills them spoling the water quality.

Anyone has this experience.

Let me know.

Thanks.

 

[mikesmith34]

From what I can gather. Moisturizer/hand lotion is very bad for your tank. I must be very careful myself with me around a bunch of chemicals during the day. I always wash my hands and rinse well before putting my hands in the water. Maybe Im a little paranoid about it.

 

[wildernets]

I am not sure there is a to careful. I wash my hands/arms also before getting into the tank.

 

[nickh06]

Yea I would be careful with any soap or lotion. Can't be good for it. I hear they have a reef safe soap out just for us reefers.

 

[declanisadog]

I usually wash, then use hand sanitizer, then rinse. I too handle a bunch of chemicals and such, so i try to be extra careful

 

[slickwill613]

http://www.reefsuds.com">http://www.reefsuds.com</a>

Check this stuff out.

 

[jennm]

I've seen an entire 100 gallon reef tank wiped out by hand lotion. Took the customer 3 days to recall that while feeding the fish - carefully (because she had lotion)... she noticed a powerhead had popped off the glass, and she reached in to stick it back on. Next morning, everything - fish, corals and inverts were dead. It was a mystery - all the sudden massive death spoke of "toxin" to me, but she insisted that wasn't possible... until she remembered that moment when she reached in to fix that powerhead.

12 years I had my hands in water every day, couldn't use lotion. Alligator hands - you have no idea! Winter is especially bad. And of course, after dipping in the tank water, rinsing under the tap to wash the saltwater off. Pat to dry, don't rub - that helps a bit.

So if you need to use lotion - get a set of Aqua Gloves or similar, to put a physical barrier between your skin and the water in your tank. It's an expensive and tragic mistake to get lotion, soap, insect repellent or whatever, in the tank.

Jenn

 

[jdavid]

I have alligator hands.

 

[declanisadog]

JDavid;926853 wrote: I have alligator hands.

+1. Winter kills my skin


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[kirkwood]

I use Aquafor everyday because I have young kids. My hands go in the tank all the time. I've never had any issues. I don't consider aquafor lotion, but it will get rid of your alligator hands in a couple days.

 

[tbub1221]

JDavid;926853 wrote: I have alligator hands.

I have some alligator shoes!!

Partha try latex gloves , rinse the dust off them with ro and put rubber bands on the wrist to keep water out.
I do this occasionally with elbow length Orange rubber gloves also , but that's more for moving rock and such , latex allows you to still pick little things up .
When I go in bare handed I usually just wash/rinse good in fresh water because I'm afraid of soap residue getting in.

 

[raz0945]

I use the original dawn dishwashing det to get chemicals and oils off my hands, rinse 2x then pat dry. I have two kinds of gloves-the long heavy duty orange ones to move rocks with and the short nitrile (no powder) when I frag certain corals. Tim Smith at Keen's Reef taught me about the nitrile gloves, thanks Tim! Doing your weekly water change may help to export out some pollutants no matter where they come from. I have alligator hands!

 

[indecloudzua]

i find myself delaying showers so i can perform tank maintenance. i really need to invest in some of those gloves.

 

[snowmansnow]

i do not apply moisturizer

 

[hiimsean]

leveldrummer;926992 wrote: I too, am not a sissy. :yes:

lol same here. If I plan on sticking my hand in the tank in the next 20minutes after washing after the bathroom, I make sure to scrub extra long with just hot water to get any residue off then wash again with just warm water before sticking my hands in the tank.

 

[racinrevo0818]

No lotion or smelling soaps for me. Never had a problem with the tank, only dry skin!!!