Everytime I clean my tank, my chest gets tight

M

moneymm

Member
Not sure if I am losing my mind or not, but every time i clean out my tank my chest hurts for an hour or so.

I exercise all the time without problem, so no its not the lugging of water or bending up and down.

its the fumes for sure.

has anyone ever heard of this? I am allergic to shrimp and dust. However i never put shrimp in the tank.

i also wear full length rubber gloves.
 
What are you doing when you are cleaning out your tank? Is this just a water change? Are you using your mouth to siphon? What fumes are you talking about?


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gablami said:
What are you doing when you are cleaning out your tank? Is this just a water change? Are you using your mouth to siphon? What fumes are you talking about?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

i was just now adjusting some rock as one fell. also the powerhead was on the sand so it made a huge gap. so i leveled out the sand causing a stir up of cloudyness.
 
If you are by/around the tank without "cleaning" it do you feel the same way? (put your face/nose,body, etc.. in the same positions just don't go in the water).

You said everytime but then now you are bringing up one specific moved some rock issue? What else are you normally (everytime) doing while cleaning the tank?

Are you always stirring up sand?
Is there a rotten egg smell?

Do you have zoa/paly corals?

You allergic to mold? Have you checked for mold,etc.. around the moist area that is an aquarium? Any visible spores/fuzzy spots at or around the water line?
 
moneymm said:
i was just now adjusting some rock as one fell. also the powerhead was on the sand so it made a huge gap. so i leveled out the sand causing a stir up of cloudyness.
Click to expand...



And your chest hurt afterwards? Any trouble breathing, any tightness in your chest, any history of asthma?

Basically trying to differentiate between musculoskeletal causes of pain (like are you leaning into the tank with your chest) or symptoms related to allergy.

Consider wearing an N95 mask while you're doing tank work. This should reduce any airborne allergens you might be exposed to while working on the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
mcgyvr said:
If you are by/around the tank without "cleaning" it do you feel the same way? (put your face/nose,body, etc.. in the same positions just don't go in the water).

You said everytime but then now you are bringing up one specific moved some rock issue? What else are you normally (everytime) doing while cleaning the tank?

Are you always stirring up sand?
Is there a rotten egg smell?

Do you have zoa/paly corals?

You allergic to mold? Have you checked for mold,etc.. around the moist area that is an aquarium? Any visible spores/fuzzy spots at or around the water line?
Click to expand...

i am always by the tank, its in my office where i sit all day. I never have the problem when feeding them. i know i get it everyday i do a cleaning. i have had massive algae problems over the past 2 years, so much so that i havent done a water change in about 8 months, and havent had an issue in those 8 months.

Last week had a service company come in and clean everything out took out the rock scrubbed it clean, and did a big water change, cleaned all the equipment etc. the fumes gave me chest pain, havent had it since then until today when i stirred up the sand bed and moved some rock.

i have no corals. just 4 fish, some remaining snails.
 
gablami said:
And your chest hurt afterwards? Any trouble breathing, any tightness in your chest, any history of asthma?

Basically trying to differentiate between musculoskeletal causes of pain (like are you leaning into the tank with your chest) or symptoms related to allergy.

Consider wearing an N95 mask while you're doing tank work. This should reduce any airborne allergens you might be exposed to while working on the tank.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...


its just tightness in my chest, no asthma. just allergies to shrimp and dust.

not from leaning for sure, b/c i got it last week when the tank was cleaned by someone else.
 
It might not be the tank. It might be that it just happened to happen when you were the tank. Maybe you should go see your doctor.
 
rocsec1 said:
It might not be the tank. It might be that it just happened to happen when you were the tank. Maybe you should go see your doctor.
Click to expand...


its been like 5+ times that i can recall (most of which a year plus ago when i last was doing maintenance on the tank), all after water changes / cleaning the tank. always lasts an hour or so.
 
moneymm said:
Last week had a service company come in and clean everything out took out the rock scrubbed it clean, and did a big water change, cleaned all the equipment etc. the fumes gave me chest pain, havent had it since then until today when i stirred up the sand bed and moved some rock.
Click to expand...

Next troubleshooting step sounds like removing the sandbed and going barebottom, and see if the issue persists.
 
I have a lot of allergies and feel tightness and heaviness in my chest in certain situations (a horse barn, dusty room, etc.). Ive never heard of anyone reacting to the smell/"fumes" of water. Sounds like you should consult an allergist and specifically ask about your tank. Can't be good for you to feel that so often.

Also: You always wear rubber gloves. Is it the gloves causing the problem? I hate how they smell!

Sorry man, and, good luck.
 
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