Hands in the tank - yes or no?

[Fish Fan]

Hey guys!

What do you guys think, is placing your hands in your tank the kiss of death for your livestock, or it doesn't matter at all, and why do you feel that way?

I've been keeping aquariums since I was a child in the late 70's, and saltwater about the mid 80's, off and on. As a kid, I didn't hesitate to shove my paws in any of my tanks for any reason, and I still do this today, I guess it's just a habit. Fast-forward more recently and I hear many reefers say that it's not a good idea to place your bare hands in your tank from fear of contaminants entering the system, yet I know of at least a few very well experienced reefers who disregard this warning.

Tell us what you think; are you very careful not to place your bare hands in your tank for any reason? Or, do you do anything first like washing your hands with vinegar or wearing those shoulder length plastic gloves? Or, do you throw caution to the wind and dive right in?

 

[redfishbluefish]

I'm all bare hands in EXCEPT if I'm going to handle Zos's or Paly's. Then I put on my blue/orange gloves. I got hit with paly toxin years ago when I was trying to net a fish. The back of my hands hit into paly's and the following day I had welts on my hands and a general feeling of malaise, where I spent the day in bed. No thank you. Otherwise, I roll up the sleeves and jump right in.

 

[Fish Fan]

I'm all bare hands in EXCEPT if I'm going to handle Zos's or Paly's. Then I put on my blue/orange gloves. I got hit with paly toxin years ago when I was trying to net a fish. The back of my hands hit into paly's and the following day I had welts on my hands and a general feeling of malaise, where I spent the day in bed. No thank you. Otherwise, I roll up the sleeves and jump right in.

Ouch! there's a solid reason to wear gloves in your tank!

But I agree, I've just been placing bare hands in my tank for so long, I don't give it much thought.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

I go bare-handed in my tank unless I'm dealing with zoas, then I will glove up for that

 

[Biokabe]

Personally I've always taken the "hands out of the tank" advice as more of an admonition to not tinker so much with the tank, not a literal keep your exposed hands out.

Generally I don't think there's any problem with bare hands in the tank. Obviously if you've just barely put lotion or something like that on your skin you'd want to rinse it off before you dive in... but if you're planning on putting your hands in your tank, you've just wasted that lotion!

The only reason I glove up before working in the tank is if I'm going to be working with glue (mounting frags, for example). I hate the feeling of superglue on my skin, so unless I'm 100% certain I can avoid it I'll always glove up beforehand.

 

[Waters]

I have never worn gloves......can't stand them filling up with water lol. That being said...I am in the tank all the time....just wash hands first and keep track of any venomous fish

 

[Fish Fan]

Personally I've always taken the "hands out of the tank" advice as more of an admonition to not tinker so much with the tank, not a literal keep your exposed hands out.

Generally I don't think there's any problem with bare hands in the tank. Obviously if you've just barely put lotion or something like that on your skin you'd want to rinse it off before you dive in... but if you're planning on putting your hands in your tank, you've just wasted that lotion!

The only reason I glove up before working in the tank is if I'm going to be working with glue (mounting frags, for example). I hate the feeling of superglue on my skin, so unless I'm 100% certain I can avoid it I'll always glove up beforehand.

I do think that's a very good point that maybe "keep your hands out of the tank" really means to not tinker with things, and maybe not quite so literal

 

[56longroof]

Bare hands even handling palythoa and zoas. Never any problems with contamination or toxin.

 

[TOM-779]

Hi All
as a newbie about to set up first nano-I have wondered about this. All you answers have helped thanks.

However, if using gloves - notably when dealing with Zoas etc- do you need to buy tank safe gloves? I am in UK so equipment availability is often different
Thanks Tom

 

[dvgyfresh]

Yes sometimes you need to grab that frag that fell over. I have noticed all my anemones will be ticked if I stick my hands in th tank , going from bubble tips to stringy and sad - takes about 30 minutes to go back to normal so they don’t love seomthing from my hands (I do wash before )

 

[petcellar]

Agree that sometimes there is no telling what may be on your hands and what effect it may have on the tank.

I do make a conscious effort to try to keep my hands out of the tank.... but often that isn't really practical. Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.

 

[GSPClown94]

I only avoid putting my hands in if I have any open wounds, otherwise I just make sure my hands are clean.

 

[Peace River]

I would put this in the category of do as I say, and not as I do. I recommend not putting your hands in your tank, but my hands are regularly in my tank.

 

[Fish Fan]

Hi All
as a newbie about to set up first nano-I have wondered about this. All you answers have helped thanks.

However, if using gloves - notably when dealing with Zoas etc- do you need to buy tank safe gloves? I am in UK so equipment availability is often different
Thanks Tom

I'm glad you found this thread helpful!

I think a lot of people use those shoulder length plastic gloves like these here, which should be reef safe:
Shoulder Length Plastic Gloves

Here's some from Tunze, so I'm quite sure these would be reef safe, and likely available in the UK:
Tunze gloves

 

[Freenow54]

Hey guys!

What do you guys think, is placing your hands in your tank the kiss of death for your livestock, or it doesn't matter at all, and why do you feel that way?

I've been keeping aquariums since I was a child in the late 70's, and saltwater about the mid 80's, off and on. As a kid, I didn't hesitate to shove my paws in any of my tanks for any reason, and I still do this today, I guess it's just a habit. Fast-forward more recently and I hear many reefers say that it's not a good idea to place your bare hands in your tank from fear of contaminants entering the system, yet I know of at least a few very well experienced reefers who disregard this warning.

Tell us what you think; are you very careful not to place your bare hands in your tank for any reason? Or, do you do anything first like washing your hands with vinegar or wearing those shoulder length plastic gloves? Or, do you throw caution to the wind and dive right in?

Except for incurring the Wrath of my clowns I do but my hands are carefully washed before I do. I try not to mind you , and have changed my maintenance rituals eg. quit using magnetic glass cleaners

 

[Fish Fan]

I would put this in the category of do as I say, and not as I do. I recommend not putting your hands in your tank, but my hands are regularly in my tank.

I feel the same way. If you ask me, I would tell you not to put your hands in your tank. If you watch me, well..... Do as I say, not as I do

 

[Tahoe61]

I make a mental list of the items I want to adjust, clean, remove. Pumps/wave makers, socks, frag racks. Then I make a plan and carry out those chores all at one time.
If I am handling Zoanthids I wear gloves. My favorite Zoanthids, Rasta no like me.
It's my belief that the less you have your hands in the tank the better.

 

[TOM-779]

I'm glad you found this thread helpful!

I think a lot of people use those shoulder length plastic gloves like these here, which should be reef safe:
Shoulder Length Plastic Gloves

Here's some from Tunze, so I'm quite sure these would be reef safe, and likely available in the UK:
Tunze gloves

Thank you fish fan that is really helpful

 

[JonoH]

Yes and no!
I find that handling frags with bare skin can cause them to STN - probably something in the oils on the skin etc.

But then i'm lazy and 'forget' to put gloves on at times!

 

[ColorMeGone]

bare hands always