Don't start a siphon with your mouth...

[TheEngineer]

Check this story out! The president of my local club posted this on our club's forum. This guy almost died from starting the siphon for his tank using his mouth...

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...left-retired-bus-driver-killer-infection.html

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

How will I test my alk if I don't taste it??

 

[ritter6788]

I'm guilty. I even got the water in my mouth sometimes. Usually just washed it down with whatever drink I had nearby.

 

[TheEngineer]

I'm guilty. I even got the water in my mouth sometimes. Usually just washed it down with whatever drink I had nearby.

Well knock it off!

I wonder if bacteria was growing in the tube he was using or if it was from the tank directly... The latter is a scary thought.

 

[tankstudy]

I know what fish poo tastes like. Don't recommend it.

 

[Tahoe61]

He aspirated some of the solution, bacterial infections are quite common with aspiration.
The danger is definitely something to take notice of.
Will I still siphon using that method, yup as I have been doing so for over 30 years, and yes periodically I am not paying attention and get some solution in my mouth. I am more concerned about the toxins released by zoanthids and palys that I have been manipulating when cleaning a system.

 

[BoneXriffic]

If we dont risk out lives during a water change we arent reefing....

And base jumpers thought their hobby was dangerous? Pfffft

 

[johntdaballa]

Holy smokes !!! I started doing this .. Well guess time to get a bulb on my tube to siphon. Good to know will for sure place this .

 

[d2mini]

We joke about the neighbors thinking we are running meth labs in our homes, but the dangers are real!

 

[Lionfish Lair]

How will I test my alk if I don't taste it??

LOL! My nickname is "Refractometer".

 

[Frop]

I siphoned a clogged sink. Inhaled what smelled like laundry detergent (the washer feeds into the pipe that was backing up into the sink). After getting it cleared a horrible smell of food in the drain.

Ya... I won't be doing that again.


For the fish tank I just use a pump. Now for the sink I fill he hose with water in a big U shape as I hold it. Put one end in. Then drop the other end and it will siphon without needing to inhale crap.

 

[adestafi]

I started my siphon yesterday this way... lol nothing like a little swish and spit. My dentist would have been proud.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

It's no riskier than swimming.

 

[AllSignsPointToFish]

I'm guilty. I even got the water in my mouth sometimes. Usually just washed it down with whatever drink I had nearby.

Nothing that my ever-present whiskey on the rocks can't sanitize

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Don't watch the show "Monsters Inside Me" on Animal Planet. You'll barely be able to drink chlorinated water after that.

 

[RMS18]

Wow I use my mouth to syphon all the time and there are cases where I will get some water in my mouth which I spit out asap.

 

[Frop]

Don't watch the show "Monsters Inside Me" on Animal Planet. You'll barely be able to drink chlorinated water after that.

Ya then I won't want to eat food either.

 

[Lionfish Lair]

Ya then I won't want to eat food either.

LOL! Tru dat!

 

[Mark Gray]

Wow I have been doing this for umm too long like 40 years now maybe longer, and what hasn't killed me has made me stronger.

 

[philfree]

I would like to point out the man was 70 years old. Bacterial infections among the eldest of us are actually pretty common given the condition of their immune systems at that age. As Renee pointed out, its really no worse than swimming at the beach. Again, the immune system.
Food for thought, thought for food!