Any reef related injuries out there?

[Mellotang]

It was a long time ago and I’ve grown used to it
It was Rough at first

hardest part was i
Had no depth perception in the beginning
I couldn’t see polyp extension on acros

now I dont even notice it

it was about 15 yrs ago

 

[Karen00]

I got a cut on my hand outside of my tank (not even tank related) then I did a water change and that hand with the cut went into the tank. Stupid me doesn't wear gloves. Now the cut is a bit swollen. I put witch hazel on it and antibiotic cream so we'll see. The swelling might be unrelated but after reading comments like this I'm not so sure.

 

[laezur]

Well this thread really raises my anxiety I haven’t had any “injuries” yet but after reading the stories on here I’m definitely a bit more anxious about having my hands in the tank and basically just breathing or even having my eyes open around my tank LOL

 

[jamie1210]

I was about to add this. I’ve pulled my back out a few times dealing with water. I’ve always had a bad back though.

Oh man, did you ever heal 100%? and if so, how long did it take? We need to make a thread about how people do water changes around here haha

 

[jamie1210]

I still do it this way. My tank is only a 5g but 1/2 a bucket of water is still heavy. After reading this I should automate.

you should!! It's a very preventable injury, and it really sucks once it happens to you.

 

[rmorris_14]

Oh man, did you ever heal 100%? and if so, how long did it take? We need to make a thread about how people do water changes around here haha

I used to make my husband hold the 5 gallon buckets above the tank and use gravity to siphon it back into the tank. He likes the new pump I got much better. lol

 

[laezur]

Oh man, did you ever heal 100%? and if so, how long did it take? We need to make a thread about how people do water changes around here haha

My water changes are awful, I really need to add an ATO or a pump to siphon. I just grab the Jerry can, lift and pour. It’s a nightmare for my back and I’m only 26

 

[A;exr54]

It was a long time ago and I’ve grown used to it
It was Rough at first

hardest part was i
Had no depth perception in the beginning
I couldn’t see polyp extension on acros

now I dont even notice it

it was about 15 yrs ago

I know the feeling im also blind from my left eye. Although not from this hobby.
No depth perception. Cant enjoy 3d movies/rides. Cant play any first person view games without getting sick.
Always a hassle explaining to the eye doctor when I get glasses for my right eye.
I've had it for about 30 years like this. Eye looks normal. I have optic nerve atrophy.
Most of the time I don't even notice.

 

[rmorris_14]

My water changes are awful, I really need to add an ATO or a pump to siphon. I just grab the Jerry can, lift and pour. It’s a nightmare for my back and I’m only 26

I purchased a back up return pump and use that to pump the water now. So much easier and I have a back up if my current return ever goes out. Just an idea

 

[Karen00]

Well this thread really raises my anxiety I haven’t had any “injuries” yet but after reading the stories on here I’m definitely a bit more anxious about having my hands in the tank and basically just breathing or even having my eyes open around my tank LOL

Safety comes with awareness. Now you're aware so hopefully you'll be safe. Then you have someone like me who has read the stories and still sticks my hands in without gloves. Admittedly I don't have anything toxic in my tank (like corals) and my fish/inverts don't attack me (no clownfish in my tank) but I still wonder about nasty microbes in the water column.

 

[Karen00]

I know the feeling im also blind from my left eye. Although not from this hobby.
No depth perception. Cant enjoy 3d movies/rides. Cant play any first person view games without getting sick.
Always a hassle explaining to the eye doctor when I get glasses for my right eye.
I've had it for about 30 years like this. Eye looks normal. I have optic nerve atrophy.
Most of the time I don't even notice.

That's interesting about getting sick playing first person view games. Is that because of lacking depth perception or is it something else that causes the nausea?

 

[A;exr54]

That's interesting about getting sick playing first person view games. Is that because of lacking depth perception or is it something else that causes the nausea?

Honestly I'm not sure. But its been this way since I can remember.

 

[Mellotang]

I know the feeling im also blind from my left eye. Although not from this hobby.
No depth perception. Cant enjoy 3d movies/rides. Cant play any first person view games without getting sick.
Always a hassle explaining to the eye doctor when I get glasses for my right eye.
I've had it for about 30 years like this. Eye looks normal. I have optic nerve atrophy.
Most of the time I don't even notice.

My brother!!

 

[laezur]

Safety comes with awareness. Now you're aware so hopefully you'll be safe. Then you have someone like me who has read the stories and still sticks my hands in without gloves. Admittedly I don't have anything toxic in my tank (like corals) and my fish/inverts don't attack me (no clownfish in my tank) but I still wonder about nasty microbes in the water column.

This is part of why I refuse to keep any Zoa’s in my tank at all, it only takes myself messing up, or someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing to interfere and boom potentially deadly consequences.

I’m wondering if there’s a document or list of things that are potentially hazardous in a reef tank? I’m still rarely new to this, so those mistakes are so easily made. Even if you research, sometimes you can miss the correct information

 

[Mellotang]

Keep in mind I work In tanks 24/7, have worked in public aquariums and run tanks for a living

chances are im Exposed more than most

still be smart

 

[Karen00]

This is part of why I refuse to keep any Zoa’s in my tank at all, it only takes myself messing up, or someone who doesn’t know what they’re doing to interfere and boom potentially deadly consequences.

I’m wondering if there’s a document or list of things that are potentially hazardous in a reef tank? I’m still rarely new to this, so those mistakes are so easily made. Even if you research, sometimes you can miss the correct information

That's an interesting point (about a document about hazards). It would probably be huge given the saltwater environment seems to have hazards at every turn. There's fish, inverts, corals, even the saltwater can make people break out in a rash. I'm one of those people, every now and then a rash rips up the arm that's always in the water. Even fresh saltwater sometimes does it. The freshwater side of this hobby pales in comparison to the number of hazards.

 

[Karen00]

Honestly I'm not sure. But its been this way since I can remember.

That is so interesting and probably another rabbit hole I will now go down researching because I have never heard of that before.

 

[reeftankdude]

3 years ago I tore my right bicep tendon which required surgery then. Fast forward (almost two months ago) to a week before Christmas and I guess my left bicep tendon started to feel left out. I shut my main valve to install a Rubbermaid 100 gallon sump on my system. The valve was stuck and I had to crank on it with my left hand. When the valve snapped open the whipping motion caused me to tear my left lower bicep tendon.

Just got out of surgery this morning and curious to hear other stories. A little out of it so ignore any typos, etc.

Here's to 6 weeks before I can get back to fragging and maintenance...

Dude I hope you get well soon.

 

[PSU_Reefer]

Man back injuries from water changes sound like an occupational hazard!

Granted my tank is only 75G so my water changes aren’t massive, but my technique is two gallon milk jugs with the top few inches cut off to allow water in faster. Double hand dip into the brute, and pour in.

Low tech but I can’t imagine it’s any slower than these other methods and there’s no heavy lifting involved.

 

[Porpoise Hork]

Let's see in the tenure of my reef keeping hobby I have been..

Accidentally cut finger with razorblade scraper when replacing it, required 4 stiches.
Snipped that loose skin between my thumb and index finger with a bone cutter attempting to cut off dead polyp skeletons.
Tripped over the water drain hose and put a hole in the wall and fractured two fingers in the process.
Had my hand sliced open by a yellow tang tail spike.
Sliced the back of my hand open on a coral skeleton when I slipped on the step stool working in the tank.
Hurt my back lugging water change jugs onto the house, twice.
Electrocuted myself when plugging in the pump for my mix station.
Oh and got stung by a fuzzy dwarf lionfish when transferring it from one tank to an acclimation box.