Hands in the tank

[schneidergarrettt60]

Ok I know I have been told many times before to keep my hands out of the tank. I have been told the oils on them have an adverse affect on the tank. How true is this? I was just told by another member that they will not put their hands in without gloves on is it to this extreme I should be to have a healthy thriving tank?

 

[Crashnt24]

Ok I know I have been told many times before to keep my hands out of the tank. I have been told the oils on them have an adverse affect on the tank. How true is this? I was just told by another member that they will not put their hands in without gloves on is it to this extreme I should be to have a healthy thriving tank?

I put my hands and arms in the tank all the time. There are things to consider though before you start tank diving. Perfumes and lotions should be avoided on the skin if you plan on touching the water. Also gloves are more for YOUR protection. There can be potentially dangerous toxins and bacteria in our tank. It's nothing worth losing sleep over, it's just good to be aware and practice safe standards. Always wash areas that touched the water thoroughly after touching it. Avoid exposing open wounds to tank water. Don't touch your face after until you wash up.

Good luck!

 

[4tanks]

I used to put bare arms in all the time but I build boats so I’m always covered in glues and acetone and various other stuff and one day I’m going to not remember to clean properly before I enter the tank so I have now got shoulder length gloves so I don’t have that worry anymore I suppose it will only take one moment of carelessness

 

[schneidergarrettt60]

Sounds like great advice I think I might get some gloves it is only a evo 13.5 so shouldn't need to cover that much up.
Thanks

 

[sixline]

I put my hands in the tank all the time without problems. Make sure you don't have soap, sunscreen, or lotion on your hands.

Make sure you have a ground probe and GFC for everything in your tank.

 

[4tanks]

Sounds like great advice I think I might get some gloves it is only a evo 13.5 so shouldn't need to cover that much up.
Thanks

I also have a large elegance coral that I don’t fancy getting stung by

 

[Nano sapiens]

I have a 12g and have my hands in the tank a couple times a week. I make sure I wash and remove any soap or residue beforehand. Then I wash afterward and apply something like Neosporin to any minor cuts/abrasions I may have (deeper cuts...wait until they are healed or wear protective gear). 40 years in saltwater and so far, so good.

 

[PatW]

I am careful. I don’t use much of anything on myself. If you use sun screens, lotions, perfumes, etc, wash, wash thoroughly and then rinse, rinse. I clean off before sticking my hands in. I rinse thoroughly and dry off. i am pretty impervious to most stuff. So I do not do extreme post tank hand and arm cleaning. I just rinse and dry.

 

[najer]

Sounds like great advice I think I might get some gloves it is only a evo 13.5 so shouldn't need to cover that much up.
Thanks

This information is important, I run one of these (England here) as well as my big tank, wash your lower arm well under a running tap and pad dry, I don't do this on my big tank but always think before I put my hand in the Evo. :)

 

[Luckyduck]

Ok I know I have been told many times before to keep my hands out of the tank. I have been told the oils on them have an adverse affect on the tank. How true is this? I was just told by another member that they will not put their hands in without gloves on is it to this extreme I should be to have a healthy thriving tank?

Yea that's a bit extreme. I believe gloves are complete over kill & if they have any sort of powder in them you're worse off than your bare hand. I put my hands in the tank all the time to move a coral or adjust a pump. I do however had a pair of 15" tweezers that if I can will use over putting my hands in the tank for things like flipping snails back over but you don't need to be paranoid about hurting your tank by putting your hands in the water. As another member said be cognizant of having lotions on your skin or soap if you just got out of the shower. You could always give your hand and arm a quick rinse under the sink faucet and wipe them with a paper towel to make certain but it's not necessary.

 

[Biglew11]

I have a pair of shoulder length gloves I'll ware if reaching to bottom of tank, so much water to wipe off. Also aware the when moving live rock, seen some good size bristle worms. Otherwise I don't really worry that much. Just wash them before and after putting them in the tank.

 

[schneidergarrettt60]

I have also heard people washing with rodi water is this necessary or will regular tap water be fine from what I have been hearing it sounds fine. Thanks all for the insight

 

[Biglew11]

I just use regular tap water, rodi seems a little ocd to me.

 

[Mick51]

Getting stung is probably my only worry I have a bubble coral the size of a basketball and when I get to close... them cute little sweepers get me , but it seems like your always gonna be in the tank at one time or another

 

[neiltus]

I have also heard people washing with rodi water is this necessary or will regular tap water be fine from what I have been hearing it sounds fine. Thanks all for the insight

People do all sorts of silly things to the nth degree because of some weird paranoia about something that will not likely occur.

Reefers been putting hands in tanks for years-and those are tanks with better corals than whom is giving you this advice.

Fragging, well, that's different. Recent hand surgery....well, different too.

 

[ZipAdeeZoa]

I just use regular tap water, rodi seems a little ocd to me.

Yup.. Totally OCD... what kind of paranoid weirdo would do that? ;Dead

If I'm messing with my tanks it always involves RODI anyway so I just use that. I really scared myself straight with how sensitive and delicate corals are in the beginning so thats probably why I started, it just became a habit after that. I wear gloves and goggles when fragging but just use my barehands in the tanks unless I got a really gnarly cut.

 

[snorklr]

go to some scuba sites and lookup coral cuts....then check out palytoxin...

 

[Greybeard]

A few years ago, I was walking past my old 60g cube, noticed that a frag had fallen. Reached in and put it back. Didn't even think about it... took about 2 seconds.

I had spent the morning in my gun room, cleaning firearms. Solvents, oils, rust preventatives, powder residue... no telling what was on my hands.

The next morning, the tank was dead. Everything. Every coral, every fish, gone.

This gave rise to Greybeard's Rule of Reefing #2: Keep your filthy mits outa the dag blasted tank!

 

[Reef Recked]

A few years ago, I was walking past my old 60g cube, noticed that a frag had fallen. Reached in and put it back. Didn't even think about it... took about 2 seconds.

I had spent the morning in my gun room, cleaning firearms. Solvents, oils, rust preventatives, powder residue... no telling what was on my hands.

The next morning, the tank was dead. Everything. Every coral, every fish, gone.

This gave rise to Greybeard's Rule of Reefing #2: Keep your filthy mits outa the dag blasted tank!

This is my biggest fear! spend time everyday around firearms and working on cars so have to plan any work in or around the tank and try and get it done beforehand which isnt always possible!

Definitely worth it i think to atleast have a set of gloves, going to try and make it a practice to wear them normally.
you can see the effect hand oils etc has setting off a skimmer.

 

[schneidergarrettt60]

It seems that this goes both ways some people say it's a must some say it doesn't matter. It is interesting to see everyone opinion. Thanks all for the feedback I keep going back and forth if I need them or not.