Gloves: When to use them and when to skip them?

[Bam327]

I only wear gloves when dealing with citric acid

 

[CMMorgan]

Gloves are for snowflakes

Hi, my name is Snowflake. I wear gloves in my fish tank and I don't want to stop.

 

[LittleFidel]

Hi, my name is Snowflake. I wear gloves in my fish tank and I don't want to stop.

My parents also named me snowflake, weird coincidence. I like not getting tuberculosis and I don’t want to stop. Glove love.

 

[vetteguy53081]

1. Do you wear gloves when working in your reef aquarium?

Occasionally especially when I have to grip something such as a sharp or large rock.

2. When should you be wearing gloves if not all the time?

When in the tank risking skin oil/chemicals in the tank, when you have a fish that likes to bite arm and hand and when handling palys

3. What brand and type of gloves do you use?

Aqua gloves by coralife

 

[CMMorgan]

1. Do you wear gloves when working in your reef aquarium?

Occasionally especially when I have to grip something such as a sharp or large rock.

2. When should you be wearing gloves if not all the time?

When in the tank risking skin oil/chemicals in the tank, when you have a fish that likes to bite arm and hand and when handling palys

3. What brand and type of gloves do you use?

Aqua gloves by coralife

We had to use something like that when we went into the Lion Fish tank back in the day. They had some sort of wire lining to prevent punctures. Once I developed a latex allergy, my glove and tank days were done. That is why I double glove the nitrile now. I do miss not having wet arms though. Those are really nice gloves.

 

[vetteguy53081]

We had to use something like that when we went into the Lion Fish tank back in the day. They had some sort of wire lining to prevent punctures. Once I developed a latex allergy, my glove and tank days were done. That is why I double glove the nitrile now. I do miss not having wet arms though. Those are really nice gloves.

Only $20

 

[Hermie]

My tanks about 2 years old now, my skin pretty much never comes in contact with the water unless by accident. I always wear gloves... nitrile or vinyl.

Does it really matter? I don't know, but it's almost a phobia for me to touch tank water. I just hate doing it, I'm a germaphobe that way.

oh yeah, I also have a puffer and I never want to get bit by it, though it's never shown aggression toward me.

 

[Phycodurus]

 

[kelp47]

Sorry you had this experience for sure! I l hope it pans out. That being said I don't think this is the normal. Use your best judgement, but in the end you really can't generalze. Extreme examples are great but don't let those become mainstream thinking. Let us know, hope you recover!

There are quite a few personal anecdotes on here that tell me this is not such an extreme case. Relatively few people have had their houses burn down to the ground, but I think most people here would still install a fire/smoke detector in their home even if it weren't a code requirement... I'm not criticizing anyone for choosing to not wear gloves. But fellow reefers shouldn't be told they're being extreme for sharing a word of warning from their own experience. I find it helpful and wish to thank them for chiming in.

 

[Hermie]

i don't wear them when i dive, why would i wear them in a tank?

because it's a closed environment of much smaller volume than the entire ocean

 

[code4]

I seldom wear them, but this topic is timely, as I had to go see the doc, get some antibiotics, some topical steroids, and some anti-histamines for this a few weeks ago:

I had some general swelling of fingers due to bristle worms (not usually a problem), but the main punctures on my middle finger I think we probably from grabbing into some small foraminifera that then inoculated my finger with the surface microbiome on the foram. So next time I go to scrub bubble algae off some rock, I'll be wearing a glove (leather?) for that.
Because I acted quickly (next morning), is started healing pretty quickly, but there is still some skin discoloration a month later.

This is why I am doing so more lately. Soon to be buying more gloves. I thought my thumb had a nasty infection from a splinter. Kept getting worse. Turned out to look a lot like this. Since I thought it was just a splinter I put it off. 2.5 months later my thumb is mostly healed. Seems the nerve is still angry. Almost like a bad blister than started from the inside out. Wish I was a faster learner.

Any thoughts on gloves to fit a woman's hands?

 

[kados]

I seldom wear them, but this topic is timely, as I had to go see the doc, get some antibiotics, some topical steroids, and some anti-histamines for this a few weeks ago:

I had some general swelling of fingers due to bristle worms (not usually a problem), but the main punctures on my middle finger I think we probably from grabbing into some small foraminifera that then inoculated my finger with the surface microbiome on the foram. So next time I go to scrub bubble algae off some rock, I'll be wearing a glove (leather?) for that.
Because I acted quickly (next morning), is started healing pretty quickly, but there is still some skin discoloration a month later.

I've had the same many times.. Handling live rock bare handed and cleaning filters. Several days of swelling and similar breakouts on my hands and wrists. Over 10yrs ago and still happens if I get lazy. Now I wear gloves for handling live rock or deep maintenance. I think it's similar to other allergies. Some people have no reaction to Poison Ivy..I have no chance after slightly brushing against Poison Ivy.

 

[stanlalee]

Never in 15 years of reefing except to change metal halide bulbs.

 

[kelp47]

Any thoughts on gloves to fit a woman's hands?

Here's what I've been using lately for more serious maintenance (not a quick dip). Fits snug enough and still gives me dexterity.

First layer for water proofing:

They are huge, and they are not real thick, so I wear these over them:

The second glove soaks up water, so you have to squeeze it out when you pull your hand out of the tank.

I used to use a heavy duty nitrile glove (Hardy brand) with a rubber band around my wrist as my second glove and for quick shallow jobs (without the OB glove) but can't find any since the pandemic began.

 

[OneSockERock]

Some of the time.

If it's a quick dip to adjust a powerhead or right a frag someone knocked over then nah. If I'm doing a cleaning session, removing algae or anything with the rocks then I'm definitely gloving up with some nitriles.

Bristle worms give me welts nowadays. Never used to be like that and never used to wear gloves, but I've become like allergic or sensitized to their bristles over the years.

 

[GlfFxtrtYnky]

I be nuttin in these... Sorry wrong kind of glove. No I do not wear gloves.

 

[Calm Blue Ocean]

I use veterinary OB gloves most of the time when I'm working in the tank. Even when I'm reasonably sure that my hands are squeaky clean, my clownfish turn into little piranhas if I go in with bare skin! For some reason they respect the gloves.

 

[TonysReef]

Nitrile gloves only when I'm dealing with coral glue. Because I swear, no matter how careful I think I'm being, that glue finds it's way to my fingers and makes me angry for couple of hours.

And also sometimes with razor blades. Same reason as above. Except with added blood.

 

[BobT]

Always wear nitrile gloves to avoid contaminating tank and for some protection for me

 

[ScottReefer]

Hi, my name is Snowflake. I wear gloves in my fish tank and I don't want to stop.

I must also be a snowflake. Feels good. My hands make a living for me so if one or both were gone because of infection, I might not be able to afford my tank. LOL.