reef disease and infants

[Mschmidt]

The world is a dirty place; I know this. But what do I introduce to my house through my reef? I am cautious with washing after my hands go in the tank, and I surely don't go fragging especially my zoas around my newborn (there isn't anything to frag anyway). But is there anything I should be on the lookout for? mostiny thinking environmentally from evaporation or spray.

 

[Slocke]

I do work with risk assessors and have pondered this. Here are my overall thoughts not necessarily to due with infants:

My biggest fear would be electrical honestly both electrocution and fire. So making sure your cabinet and other electrical is secure. Same goes with the tank and other open water (I think about this with my foster kittens).

Then there are chemicals we keep because of our tanks. I would have all the chemicals we put in our tanks secure. Most aren't that bad but everything is poisonous in big enough amounts.

Next biggest threat IMO is infection which is more a risk to us who reach into our dirty tanks full of bacteria and sharp organisms. Obviously we should all be washing hands after touching our tanks especially if you have cuts on your hands.

Finally there are the fish and inverts. I know you don't keep anything stupid but here are some common things:

• Palythoa and zoa as you mentioned.
• Fish spine venoms are rarely deadly but very painful.
• Puffers are deadly if eaten but only if eaten.
• Some blennies have a venomous bite with a very strange but not very dangerous venom.
• There is a slight risk of cone snail hitchhikers and I think everyone should know what they look like because they are potentially very dangerous.

Overall it isn't the stuff in our tanks that are dangerous really. Its the things surrounding.

 

[Goaway]

I would like to add - contact with cyano bacteria. By no means would I allow my child to mess with the tank when cyano out break took place. My own personal paranoia. Fumes from cyano, or green blue algae? I don't know. I wouldn't think we'd have enough brewing to cause issues. I really don't know.

 

[Royal_pudding]

What about lighting?
Not necessarily UV lighting, but the 400-500nm that makes our tanks pop.
I have a tank with a hood, running AI Blade Grow on it.
I dont think there is any chance my 1yr old will look into the light but there is obviously this blue hue caused by it and maybe some of the light can have an impact?
There is alot of talk about leds in that spectrum being potentially harmful to young children and even the elderly.
Anybody talk to the eye-doctor about this yet?

 

[fishguy242]

AGREE 1OO% beware of overspill on lighting...

 

[Slocke]

What about lighting?
Not necessarily UV lighting, but the 400-500nm that makes our tanks pop.
I have a tank with a hood, running AI Blade Grow on it.
I dont think there is any chance my 1yr old will look into the light but there is obviously this blue hue caused by it and maybe some of the light can have an impact?
There is alot of talk about leds in that spectrum being potentially harmful to young children and even the elderly.
Anybody talk to the eye-doctor about this yet?

Though it’s labeled as UV it’s very rare a light actually uses UV which is below 315nm I believe.

 

[c_ronius]

Infections from your tank can kill you. True story...

In the 90's my friend went to sleep after working on his tank as we have all done a zillion times. He woke up in the morning with a black vein from a cut on his fingertip to about his elbow.

He went to his doctor, and was given an anti-inflammatory and nothing else.

By the time he got to the pharmacy the black vein was to his shoulder. The pharmacist thankfully told him to head straight to the ER, which he did.

The ER doc stopped it, but I don't recall what he used. The doc told him that a couple more hours it would have hit his heart and possibly have been fatal. They could not identify any particular toxin. Based on his recommendation, I always scrub down with betadine after playing in the tank since then.

 

[fishguy242]

Though it’s labeled as UV it’s very rare a light actually uses UV which is below 315nm I believe.

Look directly into a t12 vho or t5 ho blue light , and tell me you dont see spots afterward...

 

[Slocke]

Look directly into a t12 vho or t5 ho blue light , and tell me you dont see spots afterward...

Ooh yeah
I was only thinking about LEDs.

 

[fryman]

I do work with risk assessors and have pondered this. Here are my overall thoughts not necessarily to due with infants:

My biggest fear would be electrical honestly both electrocution and fire. So making sure your cabinet and other electrical is secure. Same goes with the tank and other open water (I think about this with my foster kittens).

Then there are chemicals we keep because of our tanks. I would have all the chemicals we put in our tanks secure. Most aren't that bad but everything is poisonous in big enough amounts.

Next biggest threat IMO is infection which is more a risk to us who reach into our dirty tanks full of bacteria and sharp organisms. Obviously we should all be washing hands after touching our tanks especially if you have cuts on your hands.

Finally there are the fish and inverts. I know you don't keep anything stupid but here are some common things:

• Palythoa and zoa as you mentioned.
• Fish spine venoms are rarely deadly but very painful.
• Puffers are deadly if eaten but only if eaten.
• Some blennies have a venomous bite with a very strange but not very dangerous venom.
• There is a slight risk of cone snail hitchhikers and I think everyone should know what they look like because they are potentially very dangerous.

Overall it isn't the stuff in our tanks that are dangerous really. Its the things surrounding.

This pretty much nailed it, imo. Electrical, chemical, bacterial risks are the big three. A distant 4th is actual livestock, some of which are toxic as you stated.

The OP mentions spray from the tank which has potential bacteria and I wouldn't recommend getting any on an infant. Spray from the tank will also ruin your floors & walls, so... should probably control it regardless.

Evaporation from a reef tank isn't a significant risk afaik, just adds humidity to the air. Might even be desireable for babies.

 

[fishguy242]

Ooh yeah
I was only thinking about LEDs.

Not to debate...
But even the leds are meant to replicate sunlight , would not want kids looking into sun either... JMO
Better safe than not...

 

[lagatbezan]

Mold if there is a lot of humidity and not enough air circulation.

 

[fryman]

What about lighting?
Not necessarily UV lighting, but the 400-500nm that makes our tanks pop.
I have a tank with a hood, running AI Blade Grow on it.
I dont think there is any chance my 1yr old will look into the light but there is obviously this blue hue caused by it and maybe some of the light can have an impact?
There is alot of talk about leds in that spectrum being potentially harmful to young children and even the elderly.
Anybody talk to the eye-doctor about this yet?

Good question.

 

[MnFish1]

If you use ozone that can be a risk, as far as other 'vapors', other than mold I can't think of anything quickly. Lighting is an issue - Some manufacturers specifically state not to look directly into the light.

 

[Slocke]

If you use ozone that can be a risk, as far as other 'vapors', other than mold I can't think of anything quickly. Lighting is an issue - Some manufacturers specifically state not to look directly into the light.

True! Ozone is incredibly dangerous but I believe it is only used in minuscule amounts that aren’t dangerous. Still scares me though.

 

[Mschmidt]

really glad I asked, now I'm even more worried than I was. and have about a month of baby proofing to do. good thing he's only a month old and not yet mobile. the cabinet is safe for a bit.

no ozone run, and lights have shades. I don't think too much spills over and less gets through the water and tank.

I do have loose cords and whatnot...

 

[Goaway]

Light spill is why I love my canopy. Those lights will give me an optical migraine.
My husband looked at the t5s when they were turned on. He saw everything with a tint if blue for several minutes. We're talking less than 30 seconds of exposure.

Lights, cords, water spray, all valuable inputs.

 

[Jmp998]

Cabinet/stand doors must have reliable locks (I used the magnetic ones). No accessible cords. Do it now because your kiddo will be a toddler before you know it.

 

[Mschmidt]

I have schemes for a cabinet to hold everything. Should take a weekend day without rain to make.

 

[Viking_Reefing]

Chill out. There’s a million other things around the house that’s more likely to cause harm than the tank. It’s not even close.
Just wait until your kids starts walking…they seriously have a death wish.