Aquarium-Related Sinus Infection?

[1stNoel]

I've started getting what feel like sinus infections after prolonged exposure to my aquarium.

I have 400 gallons in a 10' x 20' mancave. When I'm in there for extended periods of time, I start getting what feels like a sinus infection (with all the symptoms like puffy eyes, scratchy throat, and the nasty loogies). I've had the aquarium for over 5 years, and I don't recall having issues before. My tank evaporates about 4 gallons of water per day, and at times it feels very humid in the room.

Has anyone else dealt with this? The last thing I want to do is tear down the tank, but I won't have a choice if I can't actually enjoy the space.

Hoping for some helpful suggestions...

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Any idea how the humidity is down there? Maybe a dehumidifier?

Had the same issue... That is when I learned about "air filter replacement". Also I am 29 so it was a embarrassing moment for me...

 

[ca1ore]

Hmmn, hard to see how humidity alone would cause symptoms like that. Aerosolized salt maybe ….. I get a cough, for example, when I'm at the beach and the surf is rough.

 

[TriggerFinger]

Do you have any way to vent the room with fresh air? Have you checked for mold?

 

[Coral4coral]

Maybe mold

 

[1stNoel]

Hmmn, hard to see how humidity alone would cause symptoms like that. Aerosolized salt maybe ….. I get a cough, for example, when I'm at the beach and the surf is rough.

This is what I'm thinking. Constant exposure is taking it from a mild irritant (like what you referenced) to a more allergic reaction.

I'm trying to see if others have experienced something similar.

 

[CindyKz]

Scratchy throat and puffy eyes sound more like allergies.

 

[1stNoel]

Do you have any way to vent the room with fresh air? Have you checked for mold?

I have a sliding glass door that I can open, but living in Florida that leads to mosquitos and other critters entering the house. Other than that, I have no windows in the room.

I haven't had any water spills that would cause mold in the room.

I did have an A/C leak, which could possibly have caused some mold to get in the system...but I don't have this issue when I'm situated anywhere else in the house, and I'm the only person in my house affected (because I'm the one that hangs out in the mancave).

 

[Coral4coral]

I have a sliding glass door that I can open, but living in Florida that leads to mosquitos and other critters entering the house. Other than that, I have no windows in the room.

I haven't had any water spills that would cause mold in the room.

I did have an A/C leak, which could possibly have caused some mold to get in the system...but I don't have this issue when I'm situated anywhere else in the house, and I'm the only person in my house affected (because I'm the one that hangs out in the mancave).

Yeah the only reason I brought up mold is because it can actually be dangerous I don’t know ,something you might wana check out just to be on the safe side

 

[NeonRabbit221B]

Yeah the only reason I brought up mold is because it can actually be dangerous I don’t know ,something you might wana check out just to be on the safe side

Its what happened to me... Check floors, air filters, stand, ect

 

[czynot]

mold may not be on surface of the walls. warm moist air trap in small room is a receipt for mold. It can be inside the walls, in the ceiling, under the wooden floors, etc. i would suggest adding a bathroom vent.

 

[TriggerFinger]

I’m thinking more along the lines of the constant high humidity may have caused mold to grow somewhere.

 

[Spieg]

I agree with Czynot. I'd add an exhaust fan similar to what you might find in a bathroom.

 

[Pistondog]

Measure the humidity with this
If below 60 to 70% most of the time, humidity is not the problem.
Get a fan to promote air circulation.
If more than 70%, put in the exhaust fan or dehumidifier.
If dehumidifier, get one with a drain hose and route to drain.
Is the room carpeted, thats another allergen trapper.
4 gallons in that size room is alot of water.

 

[cil311]

Do you use phytoplankton? When I first started culturing phyto, I would have allergic reactions when working with it. After a couple months the symptoms stopped.

 

[Mildred Gaschott]

I've started getting what feel like sinus infections after prolonged exposure to my aquarium.

I have 400 gallons in a 10' x 20' mancave. When I'm in there for extended periods of time, I start getting what feels like a sinus infection (with all the symptoms like puffy eyes, scratchy throat, and the nasty loogies). I've had the aquarium for over 5 years, and I don't recall having issues before. My tank evaporates about 4 gallons of water per day, and at times it feels very humid in the room.

Has anyone else dealt with this? The last thing I want to do is tear down the tank, but I won't have a choice if I can't actually enjoy the space.

Hoping for some helpful suggestions...

 

[ichthyogeek]

Hmm....my sinus/ear infections actually went down when I had a saltwater tank in my room....I attribute it to increased humidity preventing my nose from drying out, and the aerosolized salts acting like a natural nasal spray...

When was the last time you did a solid deep-clean of the mancave? I'm talking vacuum everything, open the doors, dust everything, and clean whatever can be cleaned, while reaching into every nook and cranny possible. My sinus/ears easily get clogged, and by maintaining incredibly sterile conditions in my living space, the infections tend to be less. A HEPA filter may also be useful.

For all intents and purposes, it sounds like you're having a dust allergy to me...

 

[DaddyFish]

My advice, avoid using an exhaust fan as that may cause more polluted air (possibly containing mold spores) to populate the space. What you really want is to filter air from somewhere else (using a carbon filter) and pressurize the space, forcing bad air out.

 

[ewanho]

Could be several Individual or combined possibilities:

1. if I am mixing salt in the same room, the dusts cause a similar reaction to yours; and it goes away after a day.

2. some foods can cause an allergic reaction - certain exposures to shrimps and other seafoods from the grocery store ( toxins, heavy metals, other contaminants)

3. developing an allergy to the usual marine foods ( brine shrimp, mysis, planktons)

4. do you move corals around without gloves - handling the zoas/palys/favia/ LPS etc cause some interesting skin anesthetic reactions and sometimes flu like symptoms;

5. check for mould around the tank, floors, walls, behind baseboards

6. are you prone to other allergies - plants, pets, hopefully not seafood and shellfish

7. Had some weird extremely fast moving multi-legged beige-white thing ( best description ever) that looked like an aiptasia nudibranch but rocket movements. It was on my hand for a few seconds and it became itchy where he was; had a little breathing problem, not major, but an allergenic response. Went away in a few hours and I took some allergy meds; more interesed in what the little critter was; he moves ridiculously fast over the rough jagged rocks;

Honeywell makes some decent air purifiers (dont go cheap on this)

 

[1stNoel]

Measure the humidity with this
If below 60 to 70% most of the time, humidity is not the problem.
Get a fan to promote air circulation.
If more than 70%, put in the exhaust fan or dehumidifier.
If dehumidifier, get one with a drain hose and route to drain.
Is the room carpeted, thats another allergen trapper.
4 gallons in that size room is alot of water.

Thanks for posting. I will purchase the tool.

Room is not carpeted. It's wood laminate over concrete.

Looking into the dehumidifier.