reef disease and infants

[MnFish1]

Chill out. There’s a million other things around the house that’s more likely to cause harm than the tank. It’s not even close.
Just wait until your kids starts walking…they seriously have a death wish.

You have a point but depending on the 'set-up' there are plenty of potential problems. But - your comment made me think of something else - but is a problem in reverse. As kids get older - they often 'toss' things into the tank - whether it's a full container of food, changing settings, etc etc. A careful education to your children of what not to do is important IMHO

 

[Mschmidt]

Chill out. There’s a million other things around the house that’s more likely to cause harm than the tank. It’s not even close.
Just wait until your kids starts walking…they seriously have a death wish.

If he's anything like me, then these aren't the only sleepless lights he will cause. Lord what I did to my parents...

You have a point but depending on the 'set-up' there are plenty of potential problems. But - your comment made me think of something else - but is a problem in reverse. As kids get older - they often 'toss' things into the tank - whether it's a full container of food, changing settings, etc etc. A careful education to your children of what not to do is important IMHO

My light and gyre controllers are eye level for a 2 year old...

 

[Tim'sReef]

You have a point but depending on the 'set-up' there are plenty of potential problems. But - your comment made me think of something else - but is a problem in reverse. As kids get older - they often 'toss' things into the tank - whether it's a full container of food, changing settings, etc etc. A careful education to your children of what not to do is important IMHO

Could not agree more! Now when they are still baby's of course look out for anything. But when they are a little older don't be fooled at how young they can learn stuff ;)

 

[soreefed]

I would like to add - contact with cyano bacteria. By no means would I allow my child to mess with the tank when cyano out break took place. My own personal paranoia. Fumes from cyano, or green blue algae? I don't know. I wouldn't think we'd have enough brewing to cause issues. I really don't know.

Is cyano toxic in anyway? I was under the impression spirulina supplement is a cyano derivative which led me to believe it’s non toxic in general.

 

[ISpeakForTheSeas]

Is cyano toxic in anyway? I was under the impression spirulina supplement is a cyano derivative which led me to believe it’s non toxic in general.

A lot of cyanobacteria species are toxic, but some are not.

 

[soreefed]

A lot of cyanobacteria species are toxic, but some are not.

That’s interesting. I just did some brief googling and it’s a neat topic.

 

[Troylee]

Is cyano toxic in anyway? I was under the impression spirulina supplement is a cyano derivative which led me to believe it’s non toxic in general.

I can say all my years of putting my hands and arms in my tanks I’ve never had a reaction to cyano.. now Dino’s on the other hand gave me a nasty burn and rash every time I put my arm in to clean the tank..

 

[Alexraptor]

I'm going to throw a "choking hazard" onto the list. Make sure you have a completely secure top, that nothing can get through, especially if keeping hermits, since they can and may escape. And biological hazards aside, you definitely don't want a toddler to get that shell stuck in their throat.

 

[alton]

I would worry more about what your kid growing up will do to the tank more than what your tank will do to your child. I raised three kids now 30 - 33 - 36 and have four grand children and no issues, you will be fine. Take the same safety measure as you do with stuff under your kitchen sink and you will be fine. Kids have been growing up around aquariums for 60+ years, at least I know this kid has.

 

[Mschmidt]

Thanks all. fortunately the tank will be too tall for him to throw things in for quite some time. the cabinet will lock alongside the sink and liquor...

I'm seeing a little irony here too with me. "why can't I strap the car seat in the bike trailer and ride with him?" stands next to "will the evaporation from me reef hurt my baby?"

 

[The_Paradox]

I would worry more about what your kid growing up will do to the tank more than what your tank will do to your child. I raised three kids now 30 - 33 - 36 and have four grand children and no issues, you will be fine. Take the same safety measure as you do with stuff under your kitchen sink and you will be fine. Kids have been growing up around aquariums for 60+ years, at least I know this kid has.

Not sure I believe that. My best friends aunt’s roommate from college nephew was killed by his reef tank and he was only 18 months old at the time. He was making Beef Wellington before finishing his formula and taking a nap when Godzilla waded out of the tank and ate him. He yelled, “Herupu! Gojira!!!”, but it was too late. The worst part was he ate the Beef Wellington too! Don’t risk Godzilla attacks if you own children.

 

[Mhamilton0911]

I have a monster of a 3yo. Complete terror to most things. Even my upper cabinets are locked because he climbs the counters and gets things from the uppers. Besides the obvious one of keeping the tank cabinet locked (I use the magnetic locks too) and tank chems locked away also, I do more like attach smaller tank stands to the wall, you'd be surprised how little force it takes to shake a small tank on a stand. I use L brackets and screw from stand to wall, using anchors as needed. I have a 29g, 15g and a 13.5 anchored to the wall, but it's not needed for the larger 75g. That's heavy enough to keep planted.

Also lids to prevent things going into the tank. Even just toys by accident, I left the back cover off my 13.5 once, the chambers were promptly filled with hot wheels.

Also think about water changes. Open buckets are like a magnet, the dirtier the better. So you might need to re-strategize if you use buckets.

Overall, other than minor things, the reef should be protected from the kid. At least in my case, lol.

 

[Nick Steele]

Honestly I had the same worry when my wife became pregnant I worried about the light spill (no shades or canopy) the chemicals I had lying around. But in the end (granted she’s only 9 months atm) we came up with solutions for it all. Any chemicals for tank are in our walk-in closet which will be off limits by locks. Lighting hasn’t been and issue with her at all she’s 1000% more interested with what’s in the tank then on top even with it being blue. Tank in living room is only 20G and I have a slight fear of her knocking it over and I need to attach some type of restraint to hold it if knocked over. The one in her bedroom will be secured to wall before ever being filled.

I’m glad and thankful that my daughter seems to be just like me and can sit in front of a tank for hours and be completely mesmerized! As she grows she will get a full teaching of the tanks around the house. We have a clown/nem tank planned for her room as well and will be setting that up here shortly.

 

[blizzardscout2]

I’ve had an infection in my hand that entered through Excema during the winter time I seasonally get. It ran my lymphatic duct quite visible and painful for 24 hours before I started an antibiotic. I’m a lot more careful about putting my hands in the tank at all without gloves, if I do it’s only if my hands are free from any possible blemishes on them.

I agree electrical is very important as salt water and electricity do not mix well.

Definitely keep supplements out of children’s reach. Some of these would certainly be fatal if consumed by children. That said so would any number of household items so treat them as you would any other chemical in your home and out of reach of little ones.

 

[Petcrazyson]

What about lighting?
Not necessarily UV lighting, but the 400-500nm that makes our tanks pop.
I have a tank with a hood, running AI Blade Grow on it.
I dont think there is any chance my 1yr old will look into the light but there is obviously this blue hue caused by it and maybe some of the light can have an impact?
There is alot of talk about leds in that spectrum being potentially harmful to young children and even the elderly.
Anybody talk to the eye-doctor about this yet? :zany-face:

This is a good argument!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Reef tank is least of my concerns opposed to germs from a kitchen, bathroom or even public places.
First order of protection for under $20 .. . . . . .
Aqua Gloves

 

[QuickrdenU]

I only worry about handling zoas near the kids. So many more dangers in a house, I’m not even worried about the tank!

 

[Stomatopods17]

Adding toadstool leathers and some leathers in general to the 'corals beware' list.

While not nearly as potent as palys (but probably worse than zoas, honestly zoas in general are no more potent than your mushrooms and softies in general, its mainly the wide variety of unknown potency with how many species there are and the fact palythoa looks like them and can get mixed up.), those corals do still shed a 'skin' through the water column and while its so small in dose broken up it affects nothing, there's always chance water dripping on the glass could be contaminated.

____

In general water dripping is something to look out for. Hard to get out of carpet, makes the glass itself a danger for contact surface, and IME 1 drip causes irreparable salt creep damage that can either pull paint off furniture and/or burn sensitive skin touching.

 

[fishguy242]

... ;) :)

 

[Mhamilton0911]

This was my anchor to the wall solution. This is in a 29g. So it's narrow and felt a little tippy even when walking by, you could tell by waves, but after being anchored it's so solid. And when the 3yo terror comes barreling though it doesn't move at all.

One on each side. Other side not pictured.