water burns

mfh_anderson · #1 03/09/2007, 05:31 PM

after reaching into my tank the insides of my forearms burn a little. my wife says hers burns very badly. why is that and does any one else have this happen?

params;
temp 78.7
am-0
trate-0
trite-0
salt-1.023
ph-8.4

danch · #2 03/09/2007, 05:35 PM

What do you have for corals/anenomes?

mfh_anderson · #3 03/09/2007, 05:36 PM

just retested and everything the same except for trite its 0.25.

added two clowns yesterday. maybe the cause of the spike?

SaltyDr · #4 03/09/2007, 05:36 PM

Any cuts or abrasions on your arms?

mfh_anderson · #5 03/09/2007, 05:37 PM

1 anemone - turned out to be a curlycue
ive got 6 polyps of mean green
6 polyps of fire and ice
15 polyps of dragon breath
and rock covered with GSP

Scoobydude825 · #6 03/09/2007, 05:39 PM

I have bad allergies so I sometimes scratch my arms. Even though it doesn't appear that I break the skin when I stick my arm in the tank it burns and puffs up. I mean if you're being stung by something that would be a differnet story, I don't know if that is the case. But you may just have tiny cuts or something on your arm that are irritated by the salt. Especially in the wintertime when your skin is dry it is easy to irritate.
Just a suggestion I don't know your situation.

mfh_anderson · #7 03/09/2007, 05:39 PM

no but its gets kinda red, wifes get more noticeable.

mfh_anderson · #8 03/09/2007, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Scoobydude825
I have bad allergies so i sometimes scratch my arms. Even though it doesn't appear that I break the skin when I stick my arm in the tank it burns and puffs up. I mean if you're being stung by something that would be one thing, I don't know if that is the case. But you may just have tiny cuts or something on your arm that are irritated by the salt.
Just a suggestion I don't know your situation.

thats possible...allergies come and go, so who know.

mfh_anderson · #9 03/09/2007, 09:37 PM

bump

MechEng99 · #10 03/09/2007, 09:53 PM

I had a bad problem with this when I first started my tank (and so did my partner), but it doesn't bother me anymore. Maybe skin just needs time to adjust to being stuck in saltwater all the time?

mascencerro · #11 03/09/2007, 10:08 PM

on days that my skin is dry and I scratch my arms if I stick my hands in my tank they burn a little. I just relate it to the salt in the tiny scratches.

ionredline0260 · #12 03/09/2007, 11:17 PM

mine burn REALLY bad if I stick my arm in the tank more then 2-3 times in the day and don't wash it with freshwater right away.

Mare100 · #13 03/09/2007, 11:41 PM

Gee....

I get the exact same thing! Inside of both of my forearms. I DO have very dry skin, though. After showers I itch and itch and itch. I don't want to put any lotion on though because I know I will be sticking my arms right back into the tank.

Mare

bbehring · #14 03/10/2007, 01:40 AM

hum, sounds like you all have RTS [reef tank syndrome]. Outside of burning and itchy skin, you experience a dramatic loss of $$$ & time on a weekly basis. Unfortunately there is no cure! Be careful, if symptons persist seek help it can lead to divorce, bankruptcy or both!

PatMayo · #15 03/10/2007, 02:30 AM

Use gloves that go up to the elbow or shoulder. It's what I use. I think by putting your skin in the water it affect the performance of the skimmer. I always use gloves when messing with my tank.

Regards,

Pat

bllfish · #16 03/10/2007, 05:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by bbehring
hum, sounds like you all have RTS [reef tank syndrome]. Outside of burning and itchy skin, you experience a dramatic loss of $$$ & time on a weekly basis. Unfortunately there is no cure! Be careful, if symptons persist seek help it can lead to divorce, bankruptcy or both!

kau_cinta_ku · #17 03/10/2007, 06:06 AM

are you sure you don't have some stray voltage in your tank? if it's low enough it may cause your skin to feel burt and not a shock

mfh_anderson · #18 03/10/2007, 06:11 AM

only thing in my tank is couple powerheads, everything else is in fuge.

kau_cinta_ku · #19 03/10/2007, 06:14 AM

electricty travels though water very well. so even if it is in the fuge, you can still feel it in the main tank. or where ever that water connects to it

Reno Reef · #20 03/10/2007, 06:32 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by kau_cinta_ku
are you sure you don't have some stray voltage in your tank? if it's low enough it may cause your skin to feel burt and not a shock

Good thought... didnt think of that one.

Frick-n-Frags · #21 03/10/2007, 07:08 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by mfh_anderson
only thing in my tank is couple powerheads, everything else is in fuge.

add this to the equation: water conducts electricity so everything connected by water is also connected electrically

nick063 · #22 03/10/2007, 12:34 PM

just get some aquagloves that way any chemicals on your arms from cleaning or showering dont come in contact with the water and you dont get stung

lifesworksataol · #23 03/10/2007, 02:26 PM

gloves are awesome - but get water all over the place

PatMayo · #24 03/10/2007, 11:01 PM

I use the gloves and keep a towel over my shoulder. As the glove comes out of the tank the other hand towels the water off the glove. As well I keep a couple of towels in front of the tank on the floor while I am doing maintenance.

Regards,

Pat

Lotus99 · #25 03/10/2007, 11:41 PM

I bought some of those waterproof mats from Drs. Foster and Smith to keep the area in front of the tank protected while we're doing maintenance, they work great, and even saved us from a small flood when the hose we were using to refill fell out of the tank with water pumping out of it.