I had to do some work in my tank and now my fingers are stinging

[Damsel13]

Is this normal? I did not touch any corals just water. Just a tiny bit worried and curious.

 

[Krish]

Do you have any open sores??? Zoanthids???? Other toxic softies???

 

[Damsel13]

Newbie needs help.

Right now I think I have a toxic soup zoos, hammerhead coral, mushrooms big georgeous polyps uh let's see monti C frags that are growing little star polyps (three different kinds) snails stomas well nevermind Oh and did I mention the anemone BTA and the 1" green mantis that lives in the fuge/skimmer?.. Just have to do water changes, lots. Till things settle down and ramped up my little cprbak skimmer. Darn that stuff that comes out stinks!

One question... for the time being i was thinking of just running things wide open · I mean not running any filter media except carbon. The tank is old shallow sand good "live" live rock. But maybe no carbon?

What do ya'll think?

Thanks in advance.
Debbie

 

[spongebob lover]

i think you'll be fine doodette .

 

[Krish]

I like carbon, but it is a personal preference...About the stinging feeling, try and get some gloves you can use when putting your arms in the tank

 

[Krish]

Read this Debbie...It was posted on another thread by Curt (curtswearing)

Well, the first thing I want to mention is that the Reefkeeping Dangers thread is stickied for a reason. I truly believe that EVERYONE should read it. Stepping down off soapbox.....

Well, my experience is exactly as Nikki mentioned. I had my softy tank for quite a while. After several months I started getting irritation on my forearms (Redness, swelling, itchiness later) primarily when I was working close to any Euphyllia spp. (Frogspawn, hammer, etc.) With each repeated exposure, the irritation increased to the point where I actually have scars which are darn-near invisible in regular light. However, all I have to do is dip my unprotected arm in any softy tank for 2 or 3 seconds and you'll see them well.

(I don't learn too quick....I should have started wearing gloves LONG before it got to this point )

I highly agree that people should have Benadryl around. However, I think you should speak with your doctor and tell him/her of this allergy. After I got stung by a bee, I went into anaphylactic shock and let me tell you, IT'S DOWNRIGHT SCARY!!! I couldn't have called 911 near the end as my tongue, face, and windpipe were all so swollen I could barely breathe. The doctor gave me a prescription for an Epi-pen for my tank, for my medicine cabinet, and to carry with me whenever I'm out in nature.

The key thing to remember is that I've been stung by bees my whole life. I had no idea until it happened that this time I was going to go into shock instead of just having an allergic reaction. Same thing goes for my coral allergy, I don't know which time I might go into shock and Benadryl will not be sufficient when/if it does happen. (Obviously, I now wear gloves to minimize possible contact).

 

[Jan]

Yep, I had a weird allergic reaction after working in my tank near my LTA, and after reading more about allergic reactions to palytoxin, anemones, etc., I got a prescription for an Epi-pen too. Hope I can figure out how to use it if I nee it.

Damsel if you haven't done it already, you might take an antihistamine....

 

[spongebob lover]

there's some very long globes (they're in my wishing list ), i believe dr. foster and smith (or whatever the heck they're called ) sell them..they are awesome because you can work around and you won't get wet or anything ....very kewl globes .

i got stung by my anemone when i first got it ...they sting lasted half day but that's it ...nothing biggie

 

[dpaynter]

Try running your hands under very hot water (as hot as you can stand). This will help neutralize the toxins and give you some relief.

 

[Snowboarda42]

I got a prescription for an Epi-pen too. Hope I can figure out how to use it if I nee it.

I hope you're not serious about that comment...At any rate, get ready for some pain.

 

[Jan]

my main strategy is avoidance (double layer gloves)

 

[Damsel13]

ok SpongeBob lover those gloves are on my wish list too but in the meantime where does someone find the "right" kind of gloves?

According to my dental hygenist even "powderless" gloves have powder on them. And! I don't know about everybody else but I can't even keep water out of my gloves when I am washing the pots and pans!!!!!!

And thanks all for the great suggestions everyone. I have taken to heart Curts stickie and the hot water really works good too

Deb

 

[spongebob lover]

i do the little cheap doctor ones BUT to be honest i think in the long run you'd save yourself some money by just buying this ones

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/produ...x=mode+matchallpartial&Np=1&pc=1&N=2004&Nty=1

 

[scytale]

I use these that i found on eBay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Shoulder-Length...ryZ20756QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

(Gaby's right though--it's cheaper in the long run to buy the heavy-duty ones..)
I re-use them a couple of times when I can, but I actually like that they're disposable.....

(And there is absolutely NO powder on them--they can be a real PITA to get on if your hands are even slightly wet

 

[spongebob lover]

those are kewl too dood... hehe doctor scytale we need you in the E.R. ... beep beep :lol: .

 

[Jan]

I have tried the long disposable ones (like on the ebay link). My opinion is that they're crap. 3 out of 4 gloves will have leaked into my hand area by the time I'm done doing whatever it is.

Last night I tried my new Coralife gloves (like the link from Dr's F&S). LOVE these gloves. Dry hands and arms--yippee!

 

[spongebob lover]

yeah and they're cheap or cheaper in liveaquaria than in Premiun Aquatics ( if that matters to someone )

 

[scytale]

those are kewl too dood... hehe doctor scytale we need you in the E.R. ... beep beep :lol: .

Actually quite the opposite--I thought of them after watching an episode of one of my favorite Discovery Channel shows-- Dirty Jobs: Cattle Rancher....
(let's just say searching for "Cattle Proctology gloves" doesn't get you very far on eBay.....)

And Jan's right--some do break---but IME it's 1-of-4, not 3-of-4.
Though I often put on a second layer of regular-length non-latex gloves over top. (The smaller gloves help mash those over-sided fingers into the right shape--and the non-latex gloves have much better grip than the slippery plastic.) and maybe they add an extra measure of strength too??

So yeah, 2 pairs of disposable gloves {almost} = 1 pair of the nicer gloves....

(But I STILL like that they're disposable--I'm a guy--I want disposable gloves, disposable razors, disposable plates&silverware at every meal, and lots of disposable income in my pocket! )

 

[Jan]

and lots of disposable income in my pocket! )

well you're in the right hobby!