Do you stick your hands in your reef tank?

[Tiger Brown]

Constantly. I find it hard to believe that this harms anything, unless you just got done painting and washed your hands with paint thinner or something.

 

[Hoang Han]

I do, wash hands good w/o soap.

 

[Webslinger]

The longer my hands AREN'T in the tank. the better the inhabitants look.

 

[rfgonzo]

All the time, I've done it for years with no problems. But mainly because it's hard to teach a old dog new tricks.

 

[Wolf89]

Everyday, multiple times if needed

 

[Magellan]

With no hesitations. Just rinse my hands off first.

 

[ChaseB143]

I think it’s fine as long as you wash your hands beforehand. Fish stores have their hands in those tanks getting corals pretty much all day everyday and they are fine. Their water volumes are typically much greater than most peoples home aquariums, but they are also in them a lot more than most people.

 

[Florida Sunshine]

I had to say yes, because in reality I do put my hands in the tank and even without gloves. Actually I have long grabbers etc and if I used my brain first, I would keep my hands out unless fully gloved, but instead I usually just reach right in.
Bristleworms and electric shock aren't enough for me to stop and think, so I don't know what will be.
So yes I do, but you shouldn't and I know better.

 

[CavalierReef]

I try not to. But when I do I wash and dry my hands and arms at least twice before putting them in the tank, just hot water no soap. I do see better growth when I haven’t been in the tank for anything in a few days. I wear the big gloves if I’m working with liverock or palys.

My protocol as well.

 

[CavalierReef]

I think it’s fine as long as you wash your hands beforehand. Fish stores have their hands in those tanks getting corals pretty much all day everyday and they are fine. Their water volumes are typically much greater than most peoples home aquariums, but they are also in them a lot more than most people.

And their livestock/corals are short term visitors. Just a thought.

 

[mrbluewildcats]

Sometimes I'll feed the fish out of my hand, and the cleaner shrimp will climb out onto my hand for anything I'm feeding except nori.

 

[Jman76]

I think its inevitable to some degree. I definitely try to minimize, use tools whenever possible. I do a lot of mechanic work so oil and chemicals are always a concern. Lots of hand scrubbing at work, plus a good RODI hand rinse before I do anything tank related

 

[Blitheran]

I do, I am just aware of what my hands might have them prior to putting my hands in the tank, like soap or lotion etc...

 

[Katrina71]

All the time. Up to my armpits.

 

[Ling_Thing]

I’ve never put my bare hands in any of my tanks ever, I always wear gloves

 

[El_Guapo13]

Not without gloves on. 1) I don't want to risk touch a bristle worm or an Aiptasia anemone. 2) I don't want to risk getting an infection in an open wound or anything like that. 3) Lastly, and most importantly, I don't want that &!%@# Clownfish to be biting me!! That $#!% hurts!!

 

[pdxmonkeyboy]

hands? I put my armpit in my tank

#30"tallaquarium

 

[dadnjesse]

Pretty much everyday for 11 years, most times I don't even think to wash my hands

 

[StatelineReefer]

When I can. Gloves if I'm handling anything live, bare knuckle for the rockwork and sand.

 

[SliceGolfer]

I use long forceps and wear an arm length nitrile glove. I noticed a repeatable pattern any time I placed my bare hand in the tank the Alk consumption would stall for a day or two.