Just How Careful To Be When Cleaning Tank

[Kaidonni]

I've always been rather worried about contaminating the aquarium when cleaning it, so I thoroughly wash my hands in cold water prior to messing with the tank. By thoroughly, I mean multiple times over a couple of hours or so.
 
I had a panic this evening as I tried feeding the Clown Loach some algae waifers, but broken up into little pieces. Turns out the piece I gave him today was a little larger than the other day and he had some trouble eating it. I was uncomfortable with the idea of leaving it in too long so had to use a new net to remove it from the gravel (didn't have time for going through the ritual of washing my hands in this instance. I didn't wash the net or anything (completely new net never used, plastic wrapping still over the netting, although some tank water might have gone on the wrapping and necking connecting the net and handle over the months when I clean the tank with the cabinet open).

My hands might have touched part of the handle that went very close to the water, or even in the water; since I'd previously had soap on my hands but not washed them in cold water, and also worn some latex gloves that smell, I'm now a little paranoid. I even lifted the lid and placed it back on without having washed my hands, and some condensation touched my hands, and I'm thinking that since my fingers touched the inside of the lid, if any condensation runs down into the tank past that point...voila, poisoned fish.
 
I want to be very careful with the feeding, so next time I better give him a smaller piece of the waifer and I won't need to mess about and panic the fish as well as myself. I certainly don't want to contaminate the tank with soap or anything else, either...but, how thoroughly do I really need to wash my hands before cleaning the tank? It's becoming a real burden as I try to make certain that there's no way I am going to contaminate the tank.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Hmm, i don't go into cleaning hands that often before adding my hand into the tank, i simply clean them under tap several times.
 
Not had any issues at all. Even when i forgot i had just done the washing up and didnt rinse hands before putting hand in tank and had no ill effects that I could see.
 
As for condensation, personally would not worry if just a couple drops went into the tank.
 
Keeping an eye on your fish for any affects would be best course of action if you are still worried.

 

[ShinySideUp]

What is the volume of the tank?
 
It's just a bit of common sense, if you've been digging in the garden or working on a car or something then yes, wash your hands thoroughly, but if you've just been going about your daily business and there is no reason to think there is anything toxic on your hands then I wouldn't bother. Perhaps a rinse off if it makes you feel better but you don't need to go mad.
 
As far as the large bits of wafer are concerned, again, don't worry about it. Clown loaches will break up large pieces of algae wafer by hitting it with a pressure wave of water from their mouths. You may have heard them 'clicking', it is this pressure wave you are hearing. Leave the algae wafer in, the Clowns will demolish it in good time and long before it can contaminate the water.
 
As you can see from my sig, I have seven Clown loaches, five of whom are nearly 12 years old, and they have been unaffected by the state of my hands or the size of food they are given.

 

[Kaidonni]

What is the volume of the tank?
 
It's just a bit of common sense, if you've been digging in the garden or working on a car or something then yes, wash your hands thoroughly, but if you've just been going about your daily business and there is no reason to think there is anything toxic on your hands then I wouldn't bother. Perhaps a rinse off if it makes you feel better but you don't need to go mad.
 
As far as the large bits of wafer are concerned, again, don't worry about it. Clown loaches will break up large pieces of algae wafer by hitting it with a pressure wave of water from their mouths. You may have heard them 'clicking', it is this pressure wave you are hearing. Leave the algae wafer in, the Clowns will demolish it in good time and long before it can contaminate the water.
 
As you can see from my sig, I have seven Clown loaches, five of whom are nearly 12 years old, and they have been unaffected by the state of my hands or the size of food they are given.

 
Unfortunately, 45-50L. I've got ads out for rehoming the Clown Loach, but no luck so far.
 
I do use anti-bacterial hand wipes in the week when at work before I eat, they certainly leave a smell. Add to that I normally use Dove soap (so perfumed), and when I clean the tank around midday, I've also had a shave earlier in the day so the smell from the shaving foam gets on my hands.
 
Normally I wouldn't worry, but I don't know whether to trust my Nutrafin water tests or not regarding mini-nitrite spikes after feeding (API doesn't register them at all). I just decided to take action and remove the remainder of the waifer. Will definitely break the next one into smaller pieces. He had less trouble with complete Tetra Pleco Multi-Waifers which took him about an hour to eat...and half the time I had to get them out of an awkward spot so he could finish them.

 

[ShinySideUp]

I'd try your local fish shop for homing the Clown loach. As you imply, you are aware that your tank is too small for this fish and they should be in larger groups. Don't suppose you are near Cornwall UK?

 

[Kaidonni]

Dudley, West Midlands. I don't think I'll be rehoming him at the local fish shop, nor any other fish shop around here. I'd prefer him to be rehomed properly with a person who has extensive experience handling Clown Loaches, and who I can completely trust. I have asked if they know anyone, and they don't. Aquarists Classifieds and Pet Classifieds is the best I've been able to do, apart from the classifieds on this forum.

 

[Byron]

I do use anti-bacterial hand wipes in the week when at work before I eat, they certainly leave a smell. Add to that I normally use Dove soap (so perfumed), and when I clean the tank around midday, I've also had a shave earlier in the day so the smell from the shaving foam gets on my hands.
 

 
This is more of an issue, having used these various substances beforehand.  I would wash your hands well in plain water (hot and cold mixed, maybe as hot as you can stand) and then dry them well.
 

Normally I wouldn't worry, but I don't know whether to trust my Nutrafin water tests or not regarding mini-nitrite spikes after feeding (API doesn't register them at all). I just decided to take action and remove the remainder of the waifer. Will definitely break the next one into smaller pieces. He had less trouble with complete Tetra Pleco Multi-Waifers which took him about an hour to eat...and half the time I had to get them out of an awkward spot so he could finish them.
 

 
You should not normally detect any increases due to feeding, especially nitrite or nitrate.  If feeding fish caused any issues with ammonia, nitrite or nitrate, we would all be in trouble.  The bacteria and live plants (if present) will grab any increase in ammonia very fast.
 
I leave sinking food in the tank until it is gone.  I have two tanks with various loaches, and two with various corys, and the sinking wafers especially can take a few hours to be consumed.  Provided you are not grossly overfeeding, this is not going to be problematic, even if one gets into a crevice.  This is where snails are a real help too, as they will very quickly deal with any "leftovers" so it gets broken down faster for the bacteria.
 
Byron.

 

[ShinySideUp]

Dudley, West Midlands. I don't think I'll be rehoming him at the local fish shop, nor any other fish shop around here. I'd prefer him to be rehomed properly with a person who has extensive experience handling Clown Loaches, and who I can completely trust. I have asked if they know anyone, and they don't. Aquarists Classifieds and Pet Classifieds is the best I've been able to do, apart from the classifieds on this forum.

 
Shame it's too far away, I would have taken him.

 

[Kaidonni]

You should not normally detect any increases due to feeding, especially nitrite or nitrate.  If feeding fish caused any issues with ammonia, nitrite or nitrate, we would all be in trouble.  The bacteria and live plants (if present) will grab any increase in ammonia very fast.
 
I leave sinking food in the tank until it is gone.  I have two tanks with various loaches, and two with various corys, and the sinking wafers especially can take a few hours to be consumed.  Provided you are not grossly overfeeding, this is not going to be problematic, even if one gets into a crevice.  This is where snails are a real help too, as they will very quickly deal with any "leftovers" so it gets broken down faster for the bacteria.
 
Byron.
 

 
I've entertained the notion that the Nutrafin tests are reacting to the Prime above a certain dosage. If I only used API, I wouldn't even be aware of anything, which makes me wonder what is going on.

 

[Byron]

 

You should not normally detect any increases due to feeding, especially nitrite or nitrate.  If feeding fish caused any issues with ammonia, nitrite or nitrate, we would all be in trouble.  The bacteria and live plants (if present) will grab any increase in ammonia very fast.
 
I leave sinking food in the tank until it is gone.  I have two tanks with various loaches, and two with various corys, and the sinking wafers especially can take a few hours to be consumed.  Provided you are not grossly overfeeding, this is not going to be problematic, even if one gets into a crevice.  This is where snails are a real help too, as they will very quickly deal with any "leftovers" so it gets broken down faster for the bacteria.
 
Byron.
 

 
I've entertained the notion that the Nutrafin tests are reacting to the Prime above a certain dosage. If I only used API, I wouldn't even be aware of anything, which makes me wonder what is going on.
 

 
As I just finished posting in your other thread on some of this same issue, it is known that Prime will interact with certain regents, so this may well be part of the issue.

 

[Munroco]

I've always been rather worried about contaminating the aquarium when cleaning it, so I thoroughly wash my hands in cold water prior to messing with the tank. By thoroughly, I mean multiple times over a couple of hours or so.
 
I had a panic this evening as I tried feeding the Clown Loach some algae waifers, but broken up into little pieces. Turns out the piece I gave him today was a little larger than the other day and he had some trouble eating it. I was uncomfortable with the idea of leaving it in too long so had to use a new net to remove it from the gravel (didn't have time for going through the ritual of washing my hands in this instance. I didn't wash the net or anything (completely new net never used, plastic wrapping still over the netting, although some tank water might have gone on the wrapping and necking connecting the net and handle over the months when I clean the tank with the cabinet open).
 
As I have suffered from this in the past, I don't feel guilty about saying this is OCD. By all means take precautions that your hands dont have soap or something similar on them, but a quick rinse under the tap is sufficient. Don't sweat it, as the saying goes, "WE AH EAT A PECK OF DIRT AFORE WE DEE"

 

[claireby13]

It will be fine, I am sure. Call me careless, but circumstance has meant there have been many times for me where I have panicked and for good reason.
In one of my tanks, a 20L tank for my one betta, I'm sure the water was doused in lethal bug spray. On the wall that the tank is against, for some reason, literally thousands of baby wolf spiders were sitting and my mum (who couldn't care less about my fish) sprayed the bug spray all over the wall right over my betta's tank. The next morning, it had stress bars and wasn't its usual self, but I did a large water change and it recovered quite quickly.
Moral of the story: be careful, but don't worry yourself about it. Wash your hands before cleaning the tank just in case, but not obsessively because you'll notice if the water was contaminated (even if it's incredibly toxic bug spray in my case) as the fish normally exhibit stress coloration and start looking lethargic. If you think you might have something on your hands, just keep a loose eye on the tank after you put your hand in it and give another quick water change if you notice your fish acting up.