Do you stick your hands in your reef tank?

[rfgonzo]

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.

Interesting,

 

[reefiniteasy]

Lastly, and most importantly, I don't want that &!%@# Clownfish to be biting me!! That $#!% hurts!!

I was up until recently, often to the elbow but then my female clown started biting. It’s like getting stung by a bee. I had no clue that could happen. The first time I almost knocked my BioCube off the stand because it took me by surprise. I need to get long forceps. I can’t get my fingers in all the little spaces.

 

[El_Guapo13]

I was up until recently, often to the elbow but then my female clown started biting. It’s like getting stung by a bee. I had no clue that could happen. The first time I almost knocked my BioCube off the stand because it took me by surprise. I need to get long forceps. I can’t get my fingers in all the little spaces.

Yep. I knocked over my rockwork a few times because of her biting me. Which made me decide to get some super tough nitrile gloves. She gave up trying to bite me when I am wearing them, I assume because they probably taste nasty.

 

[Pau Hana Reefer]

I have been for the past year... but recently got a foxface and have read how much they can hurt. He's still in my QT now and once he's in my DT, I'll be using gloves.

 

[Terri Caton]

Way too much! In my defense this is a very neglected tank I bought and it's taking a LOT of work to get it up to speed. Now that things are getting there I'm needing to do it less and less. Once a tank is well established I don't really need to much unless a large hermit has gone bowling in my corals

 

[Injoynit]

I try not yo put my hands in my tank, but...when I do it's with nitril no powder gloves on after washing my hands with no soap. I don't do this often as I have to get on a small ladder and stick my arm in up to my shoulder to get to the bottom of my 200 gal tank. I also wash my hands and such with soap and water AFTER having my hand in my tank too.
Like others that have posted I use long tweezers, long algae scrubber and also use a had grabber to pick things up.

 

[rfgonzo]

I have been for the past year... but recently got a foxface and have read how much they can hurt. He's still in my QT now and once he's in my DT, I'll be using gloves.

My foxface feeds right out of my fingers. Just stay away from the Dorsal fin spines. LOL But I also have a Japanese dragon moray eel that I used to pet on the head till about 4 years ago when he hit the floor when he jumped out of the tank at me during feeding time. I've never touched him since. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

 

[jace]

I love seeing a lot of the proper etiquette with tank care and preventative measures for safety! I definitely stick my hands in the tank.

 

[Pau Hana Reefer]

My foxface feeds right out of my fingers. Just stay away from the Dorsal fin spines. LOL But I also have a Japanese dragon moray eel that I used to pet on the head till about 4 years ago when he hit the floor when he jumped out of the tank at me during feeding time. I've never touched him since. I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed.

That is awesome that your foxface eats right out of your hand! And funny story about your eel.

How do you do maintenance on your tank without inadvertently touching your foxface's dorsal fin?

 

[Fishtheatre]

Umm. I hand feed my fish often but I don’t put too much of my hand in the tank. I have a fowlr though. I guess corals are more sensitive?

 

[HB AL]

All the time, just wash off hands and arms with water beforehand, only problem is if my Sargassum trigger is in his hang out zone he will bite me, as long as hes cruising around no issues. Aside from my hippo hiding everyone else goes about there business, except my dang Clown trigger he follows my hand around looking for bubble algae so when I see some on a rock he cant get to I pull the rock out and hold it for him while he cleans off all the bubble algae, crazy smart fish.

 

[rfgonzo]

That is awesome that your foxface eats right out of your hand! And funny story about your eel.

How do you do maintenance on your tank without inadvertently touching your foxface's dorsal fin?

Honestly it's never been a problem. any time my foxface comes around his fins are tucked in. My eel tank thats a whole nother story. Lots of oh S*** moments.

 

[jsvand5]

I don’t even think about it really. I get my hands wet almost daily for something I’m doing with the tank.

 

[ca1ore]

I try to keep my hands out of my tank, though less about contamination and more about resisting the urge to fiddle.

 

[huckjai]

In the beginning I tried not to put my hands in, but it's impossible. I wonder who voted no in the poll. You have to put your hands in some time, unless you are paying someone else to do it.

I don't wash with soap prior to sticking my hand in. I just rinse my hand and arm thoroughly and then dry thoroughly before I stick it in. Then wash with soap after I'm done. So far no issues with my tank when my hands are in there. But some times my arm gets a rash that stings/burns. Happened to me twice. Not sure what it is. Anyone else gets rashes from sticking their arm in?

 

[Caliguy1983]

I do and have done so for over a decade. I probably shouldn’t fiddle with my tank(s) as much as I do but ive never seen anything negative from my hands in the water. I wear gloves when I frag zoas but that’s about it. I try to remember to wash my hands before I stick them in with water only.

 

[Gareth elliott]

Not my hands, far better to use someone elses hands.

invite strangers over, pickpocket them, and drop their items in part of my tank that needs cleaning.

I do still feel a little bad, for samuel l jackson.

My hands go in as long as i dont have any open cuts on my hands. I wear gloves if theres a chance what im touching means bristle worms maybe there.

 

[Rilo]

Best coral growth when I've left my hands out of the tank.

My hands are only in when I'm placing/rearranging/ or adjusting a coral. When I need to take something out. And during water change day, barely.

Also during feeding but I'm going to change that with julian's thing.

 

[Terri Caton]

If anyone says they Never put their hands in their tank...it's because they hire someone else to do it

 

[UNREEFER]

I always do. Have 2 porcupine puffers. My smallest one always thinks food! when I open my lid. I have to show him my hands are empty. He calms down and let's me stick my hands in safely.

I already got bit by him when he was a tad smaller accidentally when I was feeding him a small clam by hand and turned my head for a second. Not the best of feeling.