bare hands...

[allysangels]

so i have questions regarding using gloves or tools (thus avoiding putting hands in the water at all). personally, i have always felt like i'm not happy unless i'm in up to my elbows. but i've heard that this can be a bad practice. obviously i always wash thoroughly before working in a tank, and don't put on lotions or anything like that to avoid introducing chemicals/substances to the water. i'll even skip deodorant if i think i'll be working in a deeper tank just to avoid the risk. i'll need another shower afterwards anyhow. using tools (especially planting tools) seems too clumsy for me, i try but i almost always end up tossing them aside and just doing it with my hands. the only negative i've really seen from doing so was a cut on my hand (stupid green dot algae only comes off with a razor blade...) that got badly infected, i'd assume from the tank fauna. so i was hoping that for my benefit and hopefully that of others as well, we could discuss what methods people recommend and why? i'd love to hear other's experiences with this issue. thank you in advance!

[barberking12]

i use bare hands and have never had a problem in the 2+ years i have had a tank but i dont use lotion or any of that stuff

[Totenkampf]

i use bare hands and scaping tools but then again i dont mind a little protein film since i know how to get rid of it. that being said it is still risky if you arent paying attention. i have a firend who was working in the yard and decided to come in cool off and play with a large cichlid aquarium. it doesnt take much DEET from mosquito repellant to make that a bad thing.

[allysangels]

how does this relate to the protein film issue? that was what got me thinking about it in the first place...

[mistahoo]

Long rubber gloves? Saran wrap your arm? No clue... I haven't had a problem with sticking my hands/arms into the tank and I usually have cuts all over.

[Totenkampf]

oils from your skin contribute to the buildup of protein film. i used to use the long gloves but they dont make em in python-arm size lol

[myjohnson]

Fresh water no biggy.

Salt water....I avoid getting my hands wet at all cost.

[allysangels]

i do have a pair of HUGE blue/red gloves that reach all the way to my shoulder, i just hate using them. there's no finesse with those things... and i think the cut only got so nasty because i cut myself underwater with the blade i was using at the time to scrape the glass... it pushed that crud right into my hand.

[crazy42bmx]

Yea fresh water no issues, salt will dry out ur skin if done over and over and may eventually cause cracking. Iv never had any problems in fresh but id make sure u are clean and dont have any sort of chemicals or such on you. If cleaning an old tooth brush is a nice tool to use.

[troy tucker]

I always wash my hands befor working on any of my tanks. even if I have to use a tool. Most the time I use my hands but one of my tanks is to tall. I can't stand in a chair and reach to the bottom. I am a short person. So tools are a must sometimes. If you have plants you have to trim sometimes...
I wait for a water change to clean the glass, move things around, or ad something. That way the tank isn't full and i'm not swimming with my fishies...

[Totenkampf]

...dry out ur skin if done over and over and may eventually cause cracking...

man card = revoked

[barberking12]

man card = revoked

hahahahahha

[BrAin]

LOL!!!!

I just rinse before diving into the tanks. Some times I run the shower to rinse my arms and I roll my sleeves up. I dont have salt water but I fish in the surf often and havent had any dry skin issues. Maybe its not the same??

[mistahoo]

man card = revoked

[troy tucker]

I fish in the surf often and havent had any dry skin issues.

It may not be the same. there are a lot bigger fish in that water...