cleanliness is next to godliness

[J-P]

Here is the story:
Finished work .. overly busy. Muscles aching, so I took a bath. My wife gave me some hot spring concentrate (from Japan) and now I smell like sulphur. Not that I mind I like it.

Anyway, I was arranging some plants in the tank for about 5 mins and then noticed ALL the snails on the tank wall take a nose dive towards the substrate.

It isn't like I would leave a "ring around the lake".

How do you becareful that residual chems don't enter your fish tank. I did wash my hands and arms and rinsed them well, but they still smell.

just a little confused as to the action on the snails ... all lined up all scooting away from the surface at the same time.

[Jagatorjake]

I was actually asking myself this same question a few days ago when i got out of the shower and went to fed my fish. i could smell soap on my hads so i scrubbed my hands in warm water but i still smelt it. hopefully someone comes along with a better solution.

[Flutter]

I would run away too if a monster that stunk of rotten eggs invaded my home!

I have no idea but I would probably try to wash off in something that is safe to go in cuts. Some soaps are fine to go directly into a cut/minor wound and won't hurt a bit. I'm guessing those would be safer for the fish. If I wash my hands before going into the tank or touching fish I 'wash' my hands well with hot water.

[groovitudedude]

As a general rule of thumb, I always rinse everything off that is going in any of my tanks a couple times. If I have a small residue of soap on my hands still left over, I hope that the size of the aquarium will dilute it so much that it is not harmful. However, I try to avoid this as much as possible with water not from the tank. Have any of the fish/ snails shown any other problematic signs?

[eieio]

I wash my hands before going into the tank or touching fish I 'wash' my hands well with hot water.

yep, and lots of it!

[Myaj]

Well, the simple answer would be to get a pair of those long aquascaping gloves, this protects both the fish and you.. fish from lotions/soaps and you from parasites and things like tuberculosis.

There is a certain type of soap that is recommended to wash your hands and arms with before sticking them in the tanks, but its "old fashioned" and can be hard to find.. I *think* it might be "castile" soap but I really just don't know.

I just make a point of not sticking my hands or arms in the tank after I've recently showered or put on any sort of lotion. I think most general hand soaps are pretty safe if you rinse well, maybe not the moisturizing ones. But I will not mess around in a tank after taking a shower and using scented body wash, shaving cream, etc.. usually I want a shower after I've messed around in the tank, especially the saltwater one!

[J-P]

Have any of the fish/ snails shown any other problematic signs?

none as of yet, but I could be observing things incorrectly.

Flutter it is not a stinky egg smell.. more like when you light a match

Tank water causes TB? OMG .... Whhen I was working produce I got knicked almost daily from the boxes and still worked the tanks without gloves ... ick!

[Myaj]

LOL the tank water itself won't cause it, but its not exactly a rare disease in many common trade fish (danios and white clouds I know it can be pretty common, when you see the classic sudden bent spine, watch out).

If you are worried, run some fresh carbon in your filter.

[Flutter]

What causes the egg smell then?

[J-P]

not sure ... there are different properties in different hot springs. And they all sell different.

[RTR]

The egg smell is from sulfur compounds. They are an aromatic group, but not one considered pleasant by anybody. Sniff the Prime bottle for an example. Or over-cook scrambled eggs.