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Unread 11/14/2017, 04:33 PM   #1
moneymm
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Everytime I clean my tank, my chest gets tight

Not sure if I am losing my mind or not, but every time i clean out my tank my chest hurts for an hour or so.

I exercise all the time without problem, so no its not the lugging of water or bending up and down.

its the fumes for sure.

has anyone ever heard of this? I am allergic to shrimp and dust. However i never put shrimp in the tank.

i also wear full length rubber gloves.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 04:48 PM   #2
miston
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if you are allergic to shrimp are you not also allergic to crabs??


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Unread 11/14/2017, 04:56 PM   #3
gablami
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What are you doing when you are cleaning out your tank? Is this just a water change? Are you using your mouth to siphon? What fumes are you talking about?


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Unread 11/14/2017, 05:37 PM   #4
ReeferNoob4ever
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Don't breathe in the salt mix...


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Unread 11/14/2017, 05:38 PM   #5
moneymm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by miston View Post
if you are allergic to shrimp are you not also allergic to crabs??
just shrimp, somewhat clams. but no not all shellfish


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Unread 11/14/2017, 05:39 PM   #6
moneymm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gablami View Post
What are you doing when you are cleaning out your tank? Is this just a water change? Are you using your mouth to siphon? What fumes are you talking about?


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i was just now adjusting some rock as one fell. also the powerhead was on the sand so it made a huge gap. so i leveled out the sand causing a stir up of cloudyness.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 06:25 PM   #7
Tripod1404
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I dont think shellfish allergies would be a problem unless you eat your pets.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 06:44 PM   #8
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If you are by/around the tank without "cleaning" it do you feel the same way? (put your face/nose,body, etc.. in the same positions just don't go in the water).

You said everytime but then now you are bringing up one specific moved some rock issue? What else are you normally (everytime) doing while cleaning the tank?

Are you always stirring up sand?
Is there a rotten egg smell?

Do you have zoa/paly corals?

You allergic to mold? Have you checked for mold,etc.. around the moist area that is an aquarium? Any visible spores/fuzzy spots at or around the water line?


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Unread 11/14/2017, 06:46 PM   #9
gablami
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moneymm View Post
i was just now adjusting some rock as one fell. also the powerhead was on the sand so it made a huge gap. so i leveled out the sand causing a stir up of cloudyness.


And your chest hurt afterwards? Any trouble breathing, any tightness in your chest, any history of asthma?

Basically trying to differentiate between musculoskeletal causes of pain (like are you leaning into the tank with your chest) or symptoms related to allergy.

Consider wearing an N95 mask while you're doing tank work. This should reduce any airborne allergens you might be exposed to while working on the tank.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 07:25 PM   #10
moneymm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mcgyvr View Post
If you are by/around the tank without "cleaning" it do you feel the same way? (put your face/nose,body, etc.. in the same positions just don't go in the water).

You said everytime but then now you are bringing up one specific moved some rock issue? What else are you normally (everytime) doing while cleaning the tank?

Are you always stirring up sand?
Is there a rotten egg smell?

Do you have zoa/paly corals?

You allergic to mold? Have you checked for mold,etc.. around the moist area that is an aquarium? Any visible spores/fuzzy spots at or around the water line?
i am always by the tank, its in my office where i sit all day. I never have the problem when feeding them. i know i get it everyday i do a cleaning. i have had massive algae problems over the past 2 years, so much so that i havent done a water change in about 8 months, and havent had an issue in those 8 months.

Last week had a service company come in and clean everything out took out the rock scrubbed it clean, and did a big water change, cleaned all the equipment etc. the fumes gave me chest pain, havent had it since then until today when i stirred up the sand bed and moved some rock.

i have no corals. just 4 fish, some remaining snails.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 07:26 PM   #11
moneymm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gablami View Post
And your chest hurt afterwards? Any trouble breathing, any tightness in your chest, any history of asthma?

Basically trying to differentiate between musculoskeletal causes of pain (like are you leaning into the tank with your chest) or symptoms related to allergy.

Consider wearing an N95 mask while you're doing tank work. This should reduce any airborne allergens you might be exposed to while working on the tank.


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its just tightness in my chest, no asthma. just allergies to shrimp and dust.

not from leaning for sure, b/c i got it last week when the tank was cleaned by someone else.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 08:55 PM   #12
rocsec1
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It might not be the tank. It might be that it just happened to happen when you were the tank. Maybe you should go see your doctor.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 09:33 PM   #13
moneymm
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It might not be the tank. It might be that it just happened to happen when you were the tank. Maybe you should go see your doctor.

its been like 5+ times that i can recall (most of which a year plus ago when i last was doing maintenance on the tank), all after water changes / cleaning the tank. always lasts an hour or so.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 10:18 PM   #14
Diana A
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do you feed dry flakes or pellets?


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Unread 11/14/2017, 10:19 PM   #15
DreadCapn
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moneymm View Post
Last week had a service company come in and clean everything out took out the rock scrubbed it clean, and did a big water change, cleaned all the equipment etc. the fumes gave me chest pain, havent had it since then until today when i stirred up the sand bed and moved some rock.
Next troubleshooting step sounds like removing the sandbed and going barebottom, and see if the issue persists.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 10:35 PM   #16
Fiver
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I have a lot of allergies and feel tightness and heaviness in my chest in certain situations (a horse barn, dusty room, etc.). Ive never heard of anyone reacting to the smell/"fumes" of water. Sounds like you should consult an allergist and specifically ask about your tank. Can't be good for you to feel that so often.

Also: You always wear rubber gloves. Is it the gloves causing the problem? I hate how they smell!

Sorry man, and, good luck.


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Unread 11/14/2017, 10:36 PM   #17
Darryl Hey
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moneymm View Post
just shrimp, somewhat clams. but no not all shellfish
if your allergic to shrimp you are allergic to iodine which is a mineral in the salt and crucial for reef and its critters


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Unread 11/15/2017, 07:06 AM   #18
moneymm
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Hey View Post
if your allergic to shrimp you are allergic to iodine which is a mineral in the salt and crucial for reef and its critters
hmm, is that the same iodine used in MRI with contrast? b/c I am not allergic to that.


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Unread 11/15/2017, 07:07 AM   #19
moneymm
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do you feed dry flakes or pellets?
i have done everything, frozen mussels, frozen cyclops, dry flakes and pellets. i 75% of the time pellets.


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Unread 11/15/2017, 09:50 AM   #20
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Personally, I would see a doctor. I would want to rule out a heart condition.


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Unread 11/15/2017, 11:35 AM   #21
Tripod1404
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Darryl Hey View Post
if your allergic to shrimp you are allergic to iodine which is a mineral in the salt and crucial for reef and its critters
Not necessarily, Idoine is also found in table salt, eggs and most green leafy vegetables (spinach, kale etc.).


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Unread 11/15/2017, 12:10 PM   #22
outy
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Quote:
Originally Posted by moneymm View Post
its been like 5+ times that i can recall.
Find a different hobby, don't screw with your health.

Anything to do with the lungs is serious.

You need information from a doctor not a reef forum.

This is not normal or common.


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Unread 11/15/2017, 12:27 PM   #23
moneymm
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Find a different hobby, don't screw with your health.

Anything to do with the lungs is serious.

You need information from a doctor not a reef forum.

This is not normal or common.
First step was here b/c doctors usually dont specialize in weird reactions to fish tanks.

I just wanted to see if anyone knew what it was. b/c i have a feeling the doctors wont say anything expect get rid of my tank.


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Unread 11/15/2017, 12:38 PM   #24
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i have done everything, frozen mussels, frozen cyclops, dry flakes and pellets. i 75% of the time pellets

One of my son's is allergic to shell fish. He was feeding his fish flakes and pellets and was having breathing problems. Flakes and pellets have shrimp in them. He had to dismantle is tank


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Unread 11/15/2017, 12:41 PM   #25
outy
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b/c i have a feeling the doctors wont say anything expect get rid of my tank.
For good reasons and you know it.


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