An explanation for STN/RTN?

[hatfielj]

Could this explain why some of us occasionally experience STN/RTN die offs for no apparent reason?

http://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/wash-your-hands-before-putting-them-in-your-reef-tank

 

[Tahoe61]

It could be.

Since RTN/STN are symptoms of another issue I have always thought that it could be a multitude of causes. At one time I could not put a Seriotopora in my tank because it would STN in a matter of days while other sensitive acropora thrived. I finally decided it had to be a pathogen such as bacterial or viral.

If I do not absolutely need to put my hands in my tank I do not. I can go for weeks without putting my hands in. When I do I wash my hands and arms like I am preparing for surgery.

Basically I believe there are many causes.

 

[scardall]

I had a red dragon RTN due to 2 branches being broken off the previous 2 days. Who knew? Now I did glue the frag near this colony's base area.

 

[Oceansize]

Washing our hands is the suggested solution? So we're putting detergent in the tank instead of sunscreen? What am I missing?

 

[WetWhistle]

I always wash my hands before I put them in the tank. Like Tahoe61 I only put them in when I absolutely have to.

Think of it this way. You go out for the day and touch all sorts of things. Your skin absorbs everything in your environment from like toxins, detergents, chemicals, oils ect. Then you put your hand into warm tank water and your pores open up releasing it into the tank. Next time you put your hands in check your skimmer foam. The oils from you hands a everything else on them disrupts it and it normally caves in temporary.

 

[Oceansize]

I get why my hands need to be clean before going in the tank. But I don't use soap/detergent, I rinse them with water only. Yes my skimmer is affected, I'm assuming because of my skin's natural oils. But my skin's natural oils seem like a better thing to put in a tank than detergent. If I've recently showered/lathered up, I won't put my hands in the tank for several hours afterwards.

AFTER I take my hands out is when I wash with soap, seeing as how I've just dipped them into a bacteria farm, lol.

 

[Mike in CT]

I use gloves if I can, if not I use baking soda to scrub by hands/arms.

 

[Marquiseo]

Here is a better explanation for everyone:

 

[JBNY]

Could be for some. I rarely if ever have had sunscreen on my hands. I've still had STN/RTN over the years, so for me it is definately not the cause.