Hygiene before hand going into the tank?

[stevenlu]

Hey all,

I'm just wondering how do you guys clean your hand and your arms before reaching them into the tank?

Is there a particular brand of soup everyone uses?

What about Purell? Anyone uses it?

Thanks!

 

[rich nyc]

I still have a discontinued reef suds, though I have to admit, i am sometimes bad and stick my hand in it

 

[stevenlu]

I still have a discontinued reef suds, though I have to admit, i am sometimes bad and stick my hand in it

Wow these seems perfect for my needs. Do you know why discontinued it?

 

[Gablami]

I don’t think it’s bad to stick your hands into the tank as long as you didn’t just work with chemicals. Dirt is fine. Soap, cleaning chemicals, scents, who knows what they put in them. I usually rinse my hands to the elbows with tap water, pat dry with paper towels, and get to work.

 

[stevenlu]

I don’t think it’s bad to stick your hands into the tank as long as you didn’t just work with chemicals. Dirt is fine. Soap, cleaning chemicals, scents, who knows what they put in them. I usually rinse my hands to the elbows with tap water, pat dry with paper towels, and get to work.

What about if you just have BBQ?

 

[KrisReef]

If you have been out in the field all day, covered in dust and grime, do what your mother would tell you!

If you just put on suntan lotion, or hand cream you also might want to remove that before you put it into the tank.

Long reef gloves are the easy solution, they keep you and whatever out of contact with the reef water. Those being a pain, I try to rinse, or wash with soap and rinse well before I put my hands in the tank. I use a long-handled scraper to keep my hands out, and only go it when I have too. GL

BBQ? my fish love it! ( I give them salmon bits when I bbq salmon!)

 

[SeahorseKeeper]

I have always used an unscented soap before working in my tank.

 

[andrewkw]

Water before going in the tank, soap after. If my hands have cream on them or something else I might wash with whatever hand soap we have then rinse them off. As already mentioned it's only lotions, creams and such you have to worry about. If you just ate bbq the bacteria in your tank will consume any sauce you couldn't get off in the sink first

 

[DarkSky]

I scrub with tap water to my forearm, then I wear disposable latex gloves. I put a couple of rubber bands around my wrist to keep water from getting in. I don't use lotions or other body sprays.


Where possible I just use aquarium tongs.

 

[stevenlu]

If you have been out in the field all day, covered in dust and grime, do what your mother would tell you!

If you just put on suntan lotion, or hand cream you also might want to remove that before you put it into the tank.

Long reef gloves are the easy solution, they keep you and whatever out of contact with the reef water. Those being a pain, I try to rinse, or wash with soap and rinse well before I put my hands in the tank. I use a long-handled scraper to keep my hands out, and only go it when I have too. GL

BBQ? my fish love it! ( I give them salmon bits when I bbq salmon!)

Thanks!

I have always used an unscented soap before working in my tank.

Any links to buy?

 

[stevenlu]

Water before going in the tank, soap after. If my hands have cream on them or something else I might wash with whatever hand soap we have then rinse them off. As already mentioned it's only lotions, creams and such you have to worry about. If you just ate bbq the bacteria in your tank will consume any sauce you couldn't get off in the sink first

Thank you!!

 

[stevenlu]

I scrub with tap water to my forearm, then I wear disposable latex gloves. I put a couple of rubber bands around my wrist to keep water from getting in. I don't use lotions or other body sprays.


Where possible I just use aquarium tongs.

I'm always afraid of leaching phophate from tap water

 

[Reefbuds]

I wash all soap residue off before getting into the tank and wash all tank residue off with soap when I'm done.

 

[Gonebad395]

I'm always afraid of leaching phophate from tap water

I doubt you’ll have to worry about this

 

[Jay Z]

I scrub with tap water to my forearm, then I wear disposable latex gloves. I put a couple of rubber bands around my wrist to keep water from getting in. I don't use lotions or other body sprays.


Where possible I just use aquarium tongs.

Same as this for me.

 

[lapin]

Hey all,
What about Purell? Anyone uses it?
Thanks!

There is nothing special about Purell soaps. The soaps have moisturizers as well as surfactants and scents. None of that should go in your tank.
Avoid these if you can. Always rinse any soap off with water. Then rinse again.
If you mean the hand sanitizers. They are sanitizers and meant to kill organisms.

 

[Scorpius]

Basic dawn dish soap and a thorough rinse is all you need. If you have grease and stuff embedded in your skin/under your nails you mights want to not stick your hand in the tank.

 

[ZoWhat]

I can't remember if I read this right but last Summer I think a guy posted he wiped out his whole tank with his hands still wet from applying Sunscreen lotion.... and got his hands into the tank for some reason

 

[Mastiffsrule]

I don’t think it’s bad to stick your hands into the tank as long as you didn’t just work with chemicals. Dirt is fine. Soap, cleaning chemicals, scents, who knows what they put in them. I usually rinse my hands to the elbows with tap water, pat dry with paper towels, and get to work.

I just rinse. It is important to wash after to avoid any unwanted guests hitching a ride. Unless it is a pico tank most stuff will get diluted anyway.

I smoked ribs last nite and ate in front of the tank. I could swear my Vlamingi was drooling.;Woot

 

[DarkSky]

I'm always afraid of leaching phophate from tap water

The amount would be so minor, plus you should dry your hands first.

I use paper towels so I don't get perfumes/soaps/fabric softeners from my laundry towels.