View Full Version : Hands in a tank
bdobosz
02-05-2005, 7:30 PM
Are there any concerns to be had with putting your hands/arms into a tank? While doing maintenance I often put my arm in to plant and gravel vac. Can the oils on my hand be an issue?
Aqualung
02-05-2005, 8:31 PM
Just wash your hands/arms well with water only (NO soap!) before putting them in the tank and you should have no problems.
Watcher74
02-05-2005, 8:33 PM
It's also good to dry them off with paper towels(cloth has soap residue) to make sure all the oils and old soap comes off.
Yo_Loach
02-05-2005, 8:41 PM
Nah its not a problem, I do however rinse my hands with luke warm water before putting it in, incase I have some food or something out of the ordinary i didnt notice on it just to be safe. And if you washed your hands with soap sometime before you put your hand in, rinse it then especially.
Dont worry no hand oils or stuff can hurt 'em.
Swimfins
02-05-2005, 9:54 PM
Clean bare hands, rinsed under the tap, no soaps on the skin, no perfumes or lotions, or even nail polish. And especially, don't forget to wash well --AFTER --- fiddling in the aquarium----- it is full of bacteria. In fact, hand washing is the best way to prevent transfer of any bug, anytime, but just a warm water rinse before going into the aquarium should do.
nickbuter
02-05-2005, 11:31 PM
as long as you don't have a breeding pair of convicts, nothing to worry about
Raskolnikov
02-06-2005, 1:51 AM
I have a tank that raises some concerns with putting my hands in. ;)
However, in general, the aforementioned advice is sound. It's important to avoid introducing any detergents into your tank system, and a thorough rinse in warm water is the route I take before tank maintenence. Washing up with soap afterwards is key.
Darkblade48
02-06-2005, 1:58 AM
I always wash my hands and lower arm with warm water (no soap) before putting my hands into the aquarium. After I'm done mucking about, I use soap and throughly clean hands.
Also, I would definitely avoid putting a hand into the aquarium if there is an open wound/cut, as there is a risk of bacterial infection.
..and don't put your hands/arms in the tank when you are medicating your fish and/or have sensitive skin (like I did). Rashes are no fun. Sometimes ya just don't think first..ya know? Just keep doing things out of habit, then .. oh, oh. :thud:
Yo_Loach
02-06-2005, 10:00 AM
Oh Yah! I forgot to tell you, if you have full grown black piranha or red bellies in there you better be more wary of putting in your hands ;)
Harlock
02-06-2005, 10:05 AM
The above advice is great. I want to reiterate bare hands. Remove jewelry of all kinds, rings, watches, bracelets, etc. that may end up in the tank. Rings and watches are notorious for developing gunk between folds in the metal and links. Some of it may even be soap from when you washed your hands last which would be bad.
Kasakato
02-06-2005, 10:30 AM
If you wanted there are also full hand/arm gloves for you. I use these because if I dont I get a rash, or sometimes worse.
pl*co
02-06-2005, 11:08 AM
Where did you find the gloves Kasakato? I saw them on a web site once and haven't seen them since. Thanks
MikefromNH
02-06-2005, 11:21 AM
In case Kasakato is out prepping for the superbowl......................
Gloves (http://www.bigalsonline.com/catalog/product.xml?product_id=19085;category_id=2935;pcid 1=3347;pcid2=)
pl*co
02-06-2005, 12:01 PM
Thank you!
Kasakato
02-06-2005, 12:06 PM
LOL, I was shopping for a bigger TV :o
MikefromNH
02-06-2005, 3:35 PM
LOL, I was shopping for a bigger TV :o
Sweeeet.
Debra Mark
02-07-2005, 4:11 PM
My husband immerses his whole body in the tank - hasn't done him or the fish any harm so far! :cool:
Kasakato
02-07-2005, 4:15 PM
Sweet! How do you do a water change on that big of tank?
Debra Mark
02-07-2005, 4:24 PM
Sweet! How do you do a water change on that big of tank?
He backwashes the swimming pool filters - they are plumbed directly into our outgoing sewer line. To refill, hot and cold water lines are plumbed into the return lines. To pump water out, or to refill, it's only a matter of turning a couple of levers.
Kasakato
02-07-2005, 4:25 PM
Nice!! How much is it to heat/filter that tank?
I guess with the size of it you probably don't need to change 25% of the water do you? Seems like the bigger the tank the more diluted contanements would be.
I found two pics on your profile but I'd love to see more if you have them on the internet please put a link. Construction pictures would really be cool. I'm very impressed with this one!
Debra Mark
02-07-2005, 5:16 PM
Nice!! How much is it to heat/filter that tank?
We do not have a heater - the pump generates enough heat to keep the water at a constant 80 degrees. The tank is on it's own electrical panel & it is wired for 220. Our utility bill averages about $100-150/month.... :mad2 , but after 26 years, we are used to it!
Debra Mark
02-07-2005, 5:25 PM
I guess with the size of it you probably don't need to change 25% of the water do you? Seems like the bigger the tank the more diluted contanements would be.
I found two pics on your profile but I'd love to see more if you have them on the internet please put a link. Construction pictures would really be cool. I'm very impressed with this one!
My husband does about a 600 gallon water change every 4 weeks or so. Unfortunately, we didn't get our camera until after the tank was completed, so we have no pictures of the construction. There are more pictures posted in the General Freshwater - Post pictures of your fish thread - around page 14/15. I am hoping to get some more current pictures soon.... :p