So obviously when setting up a new tank you have a lot of contact with the water moving rock around and such. Sometimes I've been guilty of it not washing my hands to get the lotion or hand sanitizer I used earlier in the day off. I've had many freshwater tanks before and have one running now and they are very healthy and happy. My question is in a saltwater tank how detrimental is this. Obviously from now on I won't have my hands in there nearly as much and can wash them well enough and take the time before having to make contact with the water. But what happens to all that stuff that's already in there. Obviously it's a very small amount if any at all. I do have a 125 gallon tank. But where does this stuff go over the course of the tank? Does the protein skimmer take it out? Just a thought. Because even the oils from my hand have to be in there. My hands always come out dried out as hell. Just food for thought because I know we are all guilty of it from time to time.
Touching the water with bare hands
- Thread starter Vbwjjeep
- Start date
wrestler21x
New member
I put my hands in my tank all the time never have a issue I do try to always wash and dry them 1st and I think the skimmer will pull any junk out
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Knighthawk
New member
I wash mine with mild dish soap and warm water. Usually I'll wait a little bit for my hands to dry before I put them in the tank.
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I do the same. But sometimes you think they are clean but forget about that lotion you put on an hour before or something of the sort. It's never hurt my freshwater. Just curious because I know hat corals and such are much more sensitive.
So this isn't so much about how to put your hands in to what happens if you do without washing. When the tanks new with everything you have to do if I washed my hands every time I moved rock around my hands would be dried and cracked to hell. Best ways to remove anything that's in there before adding fish and corals. Or does the skimmer knock that out over the weeks that follow setup.
Clowning_Around
New member
I dont use lotion our hands sanitizers typically but i still try to remember to always wash but if i forgot i dont fret offer it, i just try to minimize it or be mindful if i know that i have had contract with something bad to do it
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This is what I figured. Most things that we put on our hands either absorb in or evaporate. The contamination can't be that high. Just at the beggining your tank has significant more contact
mcgyvr
New member
I'm a man.. I don't use lotion..
I only slather some 10W-30 motor oil on my hands about once a month or so to keep my skin soft and supple.. I get compliments all the time as they are like babys butt soft..
But
I routinely wash my hands (few times a day) and put my hands in my tank all the time.. Many times without even thinking if/what is on my hands and if I have washed them lately..
I have never pinpointed any problems to that yet..
I only slather some 10W-30 motor oil on my hands about once a month or so to keep my skin soft and supple.. I get compliments all the time as they are like babys butt soft..
But
I routinely wash my hands (few times a day) and put my hands in my tank all the time.. Many times without even thinking if/what is on my hands and if I have washed them lately..
I have never pinpointed any problems to that yet..
I'm a man.. I don't use lotion..
I only slather some 10W-30 motor oil on my hands about once a month or so to keep my skin soft and supple.. I get compliments all the time as they are like babys butt soft..
But
I routinely wash my hands (few times a day) and put my hands in my tank all the time.. Many times without even thinking if/what is on my hands and if I have washed them lately..
I have never pinpointed any problems to that yet..
I've always been the same way with my freshwater tanks in the past. I was reading that you need to be a bit more anal with reef tanks. But how much can a little sanitizer or lotion applied an hour before really effect over 125 gallons of water. It has to get taken out by something eventually right? Whether through the protein skimmer or by water changes. Nothing is in the tank yet I just don't want any coral in there to die because of a mistake at the beggining.
Clowning_Around
New member
If you're truly concerned just err on the side of caution.
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Yea I'm going to start to now haha. But two weeks of moving rock is already in the tank. Guess no one knows how to remove if anything is in there.
Clowning_Around
New member
Succesive large water changes if you have toxic or other detrimental chemicls in there would be your best defense in addition to quarantining if necessary. But given this sounds like more of a general concern as opposed to some known incident... Id just do a few extra water changes and swap media frequently if you have some questions about it.
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Dr RBG
New member
It is interesting how we focus on the tank. It could work in reverse. You could get an infection if you have any scrapes or cuts on your hands.
I use long rubber gloves, (most of the time to be truthful) when working in the tank.
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PBEJ00/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
I use long rubber gloves, (most of the time to be truthful) when working in the tank.
(https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001PBEJ00/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1)
This is very true and I've been reading a lot into it since the tank is newer it isn't a concern as of yet a lot of dry rock but I won't be going in there bare handed when it's established. I remember snorkeling in Mexico in the paradise reef. Being tall my feet hit the reef a couple times. One cut was minor but could have gotten a lot worse. Noticed redness the next day. And trying to sanitize a wound in Mexico is no fun haha.
chitown tom
New member
I try to remember to wash my hands before placing them in the tank but sometimes I forget. I never use lotion and other stuff but have never had any issues.
2wheelsonly
Member
I just don't believe you can have a good looking tank without having your hands in it. I get my whole arm up to even my shoulder when I clean it. I keep coralline algae off the back pane so I am scraping the sides and back at least once a week. I stir my sandbed during water changes, blow off rocks...adjust stuff that's fallen. I sometimes get more water on myself, my fish room floor and my ladder than I ever could think possible.
Iv'e been to some great coral shops (wwc, living reefs, top shelf, vivid aquariums, etc) and I see all of them get very involved when cleaning the tank. Advice given to me was "don't be afraid of it" and they were 100% correct. If I try to use prongs/other equipment to avoid getting my hands in the tank I cause more harm than good and create a bigger mess.
Just put your hands in the tank. If anything dies then it wasn't going to live to begin with.
Like others have said, make sure you're not wearing lotion or have nasty chemicals and have fun. Don't be one of those folks that wears gloves and freaks out about hands in the tank...those people are strange. It's like wearing gloves to lift weights, you just don't do it!
Iv'e been to some great coral shops (wwc, living reefs, top shelf, vivid aquariums, etc) and I see all of them get very involved when cleaning the tank. Advice given to me was "don't be afraid of it" and they were 100% correct. If I try to use prongs/other equipment to avoid getting my hands in the tank I cause more harm than good and create a bigger mess.
Just put your hands in the tank. If anything dies then it wasn't going to live to begin with.
Like others have said, make sure you're not wearing lotion or have nasty chemicals and have fun. Don't be one of those folks that wears gloves and freaks out about hands in the tank...those people are strange. It's like wearing gloves to lift weights, you just don't do it!
homer1475
New member
This is the only thing that has crossed my mind when I'm pits deep cleaning.
I work in a restaurant and we use bleach all day long, don't think I've ever thought about washing my hands before I stick them in the tank. Even when my hands smelled like bleach from cleaning up for the night.
ryeguyy84
New member
The only time i'd worry about the bleach smell is if i had a tiny tank, the way I look at it is there's plenty of water to dilute whatever small trace of something on your hand. then the skimmer or the occasional bag of carbon will sort it out.
