I've always wondered about contamination from common household stuff and washing hands prior to working in tank. (What steps people take to ready themselves for working in the tank. Maybe a poll?)

Also,
Aeresol sprays
Perfumes
Insecticides
Vaccuming
Baby throwing fridge magnet "Nemo" into tank. That happened today.

I usually turn the lights off, cover the tank with a clean sheet and open the windows whenever we clean the livingroom, when we use oven cleaner in the kitchen and clean the bathroom with bleach. After cleaning, I wait about 1/2 hour so the fumes and smell are gone.
I don't know if it's overkill but my theory is - if I can smell it, it's in the air, thus it floats and lands on the water!
Is this too much or better to be safe and than sorry?
Ralph

Good questions Ralph. I too would be interested in a podcast/thread like this. I always wash my hands and rinse them well before sticking them in my tank.

Our family has used Shaklee non-toxic cleaners for years. You dilute a concentrate in H2O and use a trigger bottle to spray them. Even so, in the room with my tank I spray them into a rag rather than onto whatever I am cleaning.

I don't have any evidence to back this up but, IMO if you are using anything that has the "use in a well ventilated room" warning in the area of your tank you may want to cover it with plastic and turn off the pumps until the smell is gone.

Carmie

Great topic!! Having a inwall helps against having unwanted items getting near the tank but I am always cautious of what is in the tank room.

this is a good one, i will add this to the next show (for week after next)

but that said, i just rinse my hands with water before i dive in..

my tanks are all in the basement, so i dont usually worry about house hold cleaners that are used up stairs

Thanks guys!
I too rinse thoroughly before going in but I wonder if hand creams and dishwashing liquid leech out of the skin after a bit, even after a good wash.
"Honey, I can't do the dishes today cause I am working on the tank later on tonight!" :)

lol..
i cant say for sure they dont.. but hey.. as far as the wife is concerned "they do"
lol..
i have went into the tank after washing with no ill affect, but you do have to throughly rinse.

this would also depend greatly on how sensitive ur inhabitants are as to how u manage it. solvents and heavy fumes are a worry,i take it that most of u dont have cover glass cut to size for your tanks when they need covering. i used silicon blobs and set something in it so i can pick the glass up ease(in my case pollished stones) so its 5sec job to cover and uncover. ive seen drilled and handle attachments on cover glass.if ur that keen
but as for the washing of the hands, i only use water before diving in, unless i know ive been playing dirty