Aquarium safe soap?
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KDodds
New member
The "universal solvent" is...
Yep, water. Any other chemicals you put on your hands will enter your tank. Anthony Calfo's talk at MACNA was interesting because he mentioned something specifically that has always been sort of a second-nature, common sense thing for me... If "trace" concentrations of elements down to ppm and even ppb and ppt can effect our aquarium's inhabitants, and we introduce just a tiny speck of perfume or dye or soap, we're contributing to pollution that may even be in excess of 1ppm, depending on the size of the aquarium. So... no chemicals should be used to "clean" your hands prior to placing them in the aquarium. The best solvent to use, IMO, is a good rinsing of tap water, with NO prior "cleaning" (read: contaminating) with ANY soap. If you're doing a water change during this, all the better, what better "cleaner" to dissolve into solution what would otherwise be dissolved into your aquarium, then a bucket of that very water that is going to be discarded anyway? Yep, after a rinse of tap water, why not a rinse of old aquarium water to further dilute any potential contaminants with its more caustic (than tap water) nature?
Yep, water. Any other chemicals you put on your hands will enter your tank. Anthony Calfo's talk at MACNA was interesting because he mentioned something specifically that has always been sort of a second-nature, common sense thing for me... If "trace" concentrations of elements down to ppm and even ppb and ppt can effect our aquarium's inhabitants, and we introduce just a tiny speck of perfume or dye or soap, we're contributing to pollution that may even be in excess of 1ppm, depending on the size of the aquarium. So... no chemicals should be used to "clean" your hands prior to placing them in the aquarium. The best solvent to use, IMO, is a good rinsing of tap water, with NO prior "cleaning" (read: contaminating) with ANY soap. If you're doing a water change during this, all the better, what better "cleaner" to dissolve into solution what would otherwise be dissolved into your aquarium, then a bucket of that very water that is going to be discarded anyway? Yep, after a rinse of tap water, why not a rinse of old aquarium water to further dilute any potential contaminants with its more caustic (than tap water) nature?
Thanks for the info guys. Plain water i do not find gets my hands as clean as id like. One of the ingredients of soap is pig lard I believe.
If there is some sort of fish fat that could be used to clean ones hands. Or some sort of organic soap.
Im just brainstorming. There must be some sort of cleanser that does not have harmful trace elements.
Thanks again!
If there is some sort of fish fat that could be used to clean ones hands. Or some sort of organic soap.
Im just brainstorming. There must be some sort of cleanser that does not have harmful trace elements.
Thanks again!
H2OLUVSME
Premium Member
Even some tap water has harmful trace elements. I dont think youll find anything more practical than it though. If you must use soap give your hands ample time to dry and then rinse them again. I almost never use soap, but rinse my hands many times a day, like Ive got OCD.....well I think I do 
KyleO
Premium Member
Aqua Gloves!!!
I know several hobbyists that will never stick their bare hands in the tank ...... ever.
It is just much easier to keep your aqua gloves clean and uncontaminated.
Think about how many things you pick up and go onto your hands each day!!! With pours, hair, ridges, fingerprints, cuts, etc., it just seems to me that the chance is too great to pollute your tank with bare hands......and I don't even have OCD!
I know several hobbyists that will never stick their bare hands in the tank ...... ever.
It is just much easier to keep your aqua gloves clean and uncontaminated.
Think about how many things you pick up and go onto your hands each day!!! With pours, hair, ridges, fingerprints, cuts, etc., it just seems to me that the chance is too great to pollute your tank with bare hands......and I don't even have OCD!
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