How Do You Wash Your Hands?

GIT RITE · Feb 18, 2012

I want to know what everyone is using to wash your hands with before you put them in any part of your tank. I was thinking that I should be using a soap that doesn't have any perfume in it and that is very mild with very little residue. Soooo, give me all the dirty details!!!!

jaytizzle · Feb 18, 2012

I don't wash my hands before putting them in the tank. The last thing I want is soap residue or something going into my tank. I always wash thoroughly with hot water after having my hands in the tank, though.

Reef Breeders · Feb 18, 2012

I wash with regular soap, but I make sure to rinse off all of the residue. A smell test will tell you if any is left. Castile soap will not leave much residue, that would be your best option IMO.

boxer · Feb 18, 2012

I use isopropyl alcohol and wait until my hands dry completely then dive in. I do this because this is what my girl friend does at ORA.

dh350twin · Feb 18, 2012

boxer said:
I use isopropyl alcohol and wait until my hands dry completely then dive in. I do this because this is what my girl friend does at ORA.

Girlfriend works at ORA! .......wonder what his tank looks like........!
I wash my hands with no soap just warm water.

Raggamuffin · Feb 19, 2012

I rinse mine in RO out of my 55g drum, use a pitcher grab 2 liters and it is more than enough.

TheEngineer · Feb 19, 2012

I use a soap that isn't antibacterial. Lather for 20 seconds (proper time to remove bacteria), rinse for 10, right into the tank. Then the same thing afterwards.

GIT RITE · Feb 19, 2012

I didnt know what to do, I have been always worried if I didnt wash my hands then I could contaminate my tank but on the other end I didnt want contaminate my tank because I washed my hands. There are some people that say to use gloves, I for one dont work well with gloves. When I use them I always ends up messing up more than what I needed to fix to begin with.
Lots of good info, I think from now on I will wash my hands with Castile soap and then a quick rub down with Isopropyl alcohol.

sprinklerdudes · Feb 19, 2012

I have had freash water tanks for over thirty years, have had salt for several years, freash water, simply wash withtap water no soap, then after you are finished working on your tank wash with soap and warm water like you normally wash your hands nothing special, generally I don't even thnk about washing my hands before I work on the salt water, because the first thing I usally am doing is cleaning the skimmer cup or washing out the filter pad, those are loaded with fish poo and other nasty stuff, I do make sure I scrub my hands really well with soap and warm/hot water when I finish and I usally use a finger nail brush as well, I don't worry about it too much, but I do not like a bunch of people sticking there hand in my tanks or other peoples kids throwing toys in there,

dsmhero · Feb 19, 2012

I just rinse thoroughly with hot water.

WarrenPink · Jul 10, 2018

https://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/wash-your-hands-before-putting-them-in-your-reef-tank

gcarroll · Jul 10, 2018

WarrenPink said:
https://www.advancedaquarist.com/blog/wash-your-hands-before-putting-them-in-your-reef-tank

No sunscreen here, I came with a factory tint.

I use dish soap and rinse well!

Dennis McGrath · Jul 10, 2018

I also use dish soap and rinse very well.

Salty.Reefer · Jul 10, 2018

I am a habitual user of lotion. I did acutane as a teenager and my skin is forever really dry. Because of that I wash my hands past my elbows with hot water. Dry off throughly then put them in the tank.
I remember seeing at a show a while ago "reef safe hand soap." I forgot who made it but it was a little bar of soap.

Rick Strauss · Jul 10, 2018

Salty.Reefer said:
I am a habitual user of lotion. I did acutane as a teenager and my skin is forever really dry. Because of that I wash my hands past my elbows with hot water. Dry off throughly then put them in the tank.
I remember seeing at a show a while ago "reef safe hand soap." I forgot who made it but it was a little bar of soap.

BRS sells it

lzrlvr · Jul 10, 2018

Dawn dish liquid

cooltowncorals · Jul 10, 2018

I wash with just RO out of faucet no soap

Kellie in CA · Jul 10, 2018

Salty.Reefer said:
I am a habitual user of lotion. I did acutane as a teenager and my skin is forever really dry. Because of that I wash my hands past my elbows with hot water. Dry off throughly then put them in the tank.
I remember seeing at a show a while ago "reef safe hand soap." I forgot who made it but it was a little bar of soap.

ReefSuds. I use it, it's great!

lzrlvr · Jul 10, 2018

I work in the heating and air conditioning business clean hands are essential when I need to put my hands into my tank.

Joshua M Hall · Jul 10, 2018

Dish soap, thorough rinse, thorough dry with paper towel, rinse w/ RO/DI, thorough dry, hands in. Slightly OCD I guess but hasn't failed me yet. I feel like it is much smarter to wash with soap and get any oily/sticky/water-resistant nasty residue off your skin than it is to not use soap at all. Just make sure to get the soap off. I just take it a step further and rinse with RO/DI to make sure nothing from the tap water is polluting my tank but probably not necessary.