anti-bacterial soap and the tank

Paintbug · #1 01/26/2007, 07:48 PM

me and a fellow reefer were chatting today, and got on the subject of hand washing. i was explaining that i have a feeling that the soap i use in the household is causing my pods to slowly decrease in population. my thoughts are that the anti-bacteria soap residue is either killing off the food supply for the pods, and/or the pods directly. i do try to rinse all the soap off. most the time i spend 2-3 mins just rinsing. i started using the soap about 6 months ago. i used to have tons of amphipods especially. now i may see one or two a night if im lucky. my parameters are good, other than the nitrates are bouncing around 10ppm. i have been feeding phytoplankton for about 2 months straight to help feed them as well. so im kinda lost LOL. me and the fellow reefer thought this may be a good topic for discussion

. any thoughts, or have any studies been performed on the subject or something similar?

PallidSilversky · #2 01/26/2007, 08:01 PM

Anti-bacterial hand soap is a bad idea in general. Anti-bacterial soap leads to anit-biotic resistant bacteria. There are many strains of bacteria that are resistant ATM.

jdieck · #3 01/26/2007, 08:24 PM

I will look for predators before the soap. Any Wrasses, Mandarins or such fish?

Mr.Furious · #4 01/26/2007, 08:30 PM

Yea I wouldnt be so quick to blame the soap. I use anti-bacterial soap regularly (OCD hand washer) and my pod population is healthy and thriving. I agree with you though that it is important to wash the soap off and rinse your hands with clean water for a while.

Paintbug · #5 01/26/2007, 08:30 PM

the only thing that really hunts the pods is my coral beauty. the tank has been going to about 2 months shy of 2 years, and usually had tons of amphipods. i do still have a decent amount of mysis shrimps.

jdieck · #6 01/26/2007, 10:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paintbug
the only thing that really hunts the pods is my coral beauty...

There is your answer I guess.

RedEyeElf · #7 01/26/2007, 10:26 PM

I see no harm in it either, I use it all day and dip my hands, and sometimes whole body into atleast 5 tanks aday

Just rinse well

nUgZ · #8 01/27/2007, 10:15 AM

We also discussed the chance that the soap could kill off some of the beneficial bacteria that take care of the Nitrogen cycle. Any thoughts??

dc · #9 01/27/2007, 10:33 AM

I haven't noticed a difference myself and I've always used it. I also believe that almost any fish will eat pods if they are in the open.

Paintbug · #10 01/27/2007, 10:39 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by jdieck
There is your answer I guess.

not really, while the CB does pick at the rocks for pods alot, hes not like a mandarin. with 80lbs of rock there should, and used to be tons of pods, copepods, amphipods, and mysis shrimp to be exact.

We also discussed the chance that the soap could kill off some of the beneficial bacteria that take care of the Nitrogen cycle. Any thoughts??

Oh yeah that too

The Saltwater Kid · #11 01/27/2007, 04:34 PM

I use anti-bacterial soap all the time. I make sure I rinse my hands well and dry them off good before i stick them in the tank but regardless my pod population is booming, take a flashlight at night and I see tons of em' crawling all over my rockwork.

scott324 · #12 01/27/2007, 05:53 PM

I have noticed that pod populations in my tank(s) come and go. I believe it is the normal ebb and flow. They population explodes and then dies back over and over again.

nUgZ · #13 02/06/2007, 02:07 PM

Anybody else?? Particularly regarding this.

"We also discussed the chance that the soap could kill off some of the beneficial bacteria that take care of the Nitrogen cycle. Any thoughts??"

HDAlien · #14 02/06/2007, 06:31 PM

I've been using anti-microbial soap for as long as I can remember. My tank is healthy, all my numbers stay 0 all the time. I do make sure to properly and completely rinse my hands and dry before I get into the tank. I don't think it's bad at all.