DUMPED HAND CLEANER IN MY TANK!!!

[P-Dub]

Now that I have your attention, let me tell you, you are likely doing the exact same thing... intentionally, however unwittingly.

Let's face it, we all have to put our hands in our tank and sump and more often than we like. There is always a debate about what soap is "reef safe" or even if you should bother washing with some sort of cleanser. There are polls and recommendations all over the internet but I have yet to see the solution that I have been using. You can purchase specialty soap that is supposedly safe and marketed as such, use regular soap and rinse like all get out, just rinse your hands and arms thoroughly with water, or just go for it, washing and rinsing be darned. We all want to prevent pollutants from entering our systems particularly as a direct result of our maintenance needs. So, why not clean with a true "Reef Safe" cleanser that you already likely have on hand, cause no harm, and actually have some possible benefit added albeit minuscule.

Wash your hands with sodium bicarbonate. Simple, cheap, effective, and REEF SAFE! Not to sound self-ingratiating, but, you're welcome.

 

[redfishbluefish]

Wear gloves! .

 

[P-Dub]

Wear gloves! .

Don't have gloves with long enough sleeves. I did, way back when, but then dexterity becomes an issue. Then you got to rinse the gloves. Then if you get water in the gloves... PITA...

 

[madweazl]

Meh, I've washed with dish soap if my hands were dirty, rinsed off if not bad, and if I thought I was clean enough, just went for it. My habits sit between best practice and reality...

 

[P-Dub]

Meh, I've washed with dish soap if my hands were dirty, rinsed off if not bad, and if I thought I was clean enough, just went for it. My habits sit between best practice and reality...

That is certainly a reasonable route to go and one that we all most likely follow or have followed. Just substitute some baking soda for the dish soap... equally in the realm of best practices and reality.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Dawn dish soap. Maybe several times. Then a fresh water rinse.

If hands were covered in diesel or I've been bathing in deep woods off or other fun stuff, wait till tomorrow to put them in the tank, even after the shower.

 

[lapin]

I import off shore coastal air for my tank room. Ya just dont know whats in that local air.
I do rinse my hands 2 times before going in the tank.

 

[P-Dub]

I import off shore coastal air for my tank room. Ya just dont know whats in that local air.
I do rinse my hands 2 times before going in the tank.

 

[BluewaterLa]

Always just used Dawn dish soap with No added fragrance to wash my hands and arms then straight to work on the reef.
Been doing this for years with No ill effects, Yes I rinse well so there is no soapy bubbles still coming off my skin.
I also agree that if I am messing with equipment grease, fuels or any thing like sunscreen or bug spray I will take a thorough shower, make a judgement call on Now or wait till next day.

I also have 27'' stainless tweezers among other reefing tools for grabbing / moving things without getting hands wet that are used most of the time until its time to get elbow / shoulder deep in the tank.

 

[DEWreefing]

Wash with dawn if hands are dirty most the time I just rinse with hot water scrub dry and go for it.

 

[Crabby48]

I was just thinking about this subject. My thoughts are dawn with no additives and good rinse followed by a hope and prayer

I work around nasty chemicals being a mechanic and also fiberglass repair.