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03/02/2012, 04:56 PM
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#1 |
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KING LEAR
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Cleveland Ohio area
Posts: 7,428
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Palytoxin almost kills local reefer
Tommy (Tcat3rd) Almost died Wednesday evening after being exposed to the deadly Palytoxin from zoanthids left over night in a bucket. The zoo's were have dead from leaving them over night in a bucket so he decided to clean the rocks off in his utility tub with hot water and scrubbing them. He was full aware of the danger of the toxin, he used eye protection and full length gloves to clean the rocks. What he didn't protect was his lungs, the hot water and steam from the water made the toxin airborne. After 20 minutes of cleaning the rocks he went up stairs, feeling sick to his stomach. after another half hour passed he was ready to head to the emergency room but before he left he printed out articles on the toxin to take with him. In the waiting room he became almost paralyzed and started to cough up blood, his lungs were filling up with blood as well. The Dr's treated him with everything the could think of and were getting results, they called in the priest for last rights that evening and didn't think he'd make it through the night. Thursday morning they continued massive treat of antibiotics and steroids with little improvement. Today he's on his way back from his death bed and will be in the hospital for days to run tests and monitor his progress. We wanted me to post up to let everyone know and to remind them the dangers of our tanks. Thoughts and prayers go out to Tommy and his family, which also got sick from the toxin just not as bad as Tommy did being in closer range to the steam.
Erik
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Coming up on 25 years in this hobby...That's a lot of skimmate Current Tank Info: Dsa 135 |
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03/02/2012, 05:24 PM
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#2 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Cleveland, Ohio
Posts: 1,586
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So glad to read he is on the mend..and a really good reminder that I need to be much more careful with my tank habits.
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.....Sandra “Being happy doesn't mean that everything is perfect. It means that you've decided to look beyond the imperfections.” Current Tank Info: 75 galllon reef, T5HO love em! |
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03/02/2012, 05:30 PM
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#3 |
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New Old School
 
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Luzerne County, PA
Posts: 3,293
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I would never have thought about that. I'll have to do some reading on these more advanced subjects.
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03/02/2012, 05:32 PM
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#4 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Posts: 338
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Oh my God!!!! That is horrible!!! I pray that he and his family are able to recover from such a awful accident! I'm so glad he had the sense to bring the printouts with him!! Please give him my best and let him know if he needs anything to please let me know.
Cindy |
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03/02/2012, 05:41 PM
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#5 |
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Polyp Nipper
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Fairview Park, OH
Posts: 1,944
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Wow, I am glad he is recovering. I hope you feel better soon Tommy.
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450 Gallon Mixed Reef, 108"x40"x26" Current Tank Info: 210 Gallon Mixed Reef starting 9-23-12.........93 gallon cube started 1-1-2011, ending 9-23-12. |
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03/02/2012, 05:48 PM
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#6 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Ohio
Posts: 361
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The ocean and it's creatures all bite.... This should be a warning to all newbies and long term reefers.... Stuff in these tanks can kill you very fast. Thank goodness it seems he will be okay......
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03/02/2012, 06:29 PM
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#7 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Chagrin Falls, OH
Posts: 739
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Wishing Tommy and his family a full and quick recovery.
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03/02/2012, 06:34 PM
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#8 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Canal Fulton
Posts: 741
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Wow, should be an eye opener for all! Hope you get back on your feet soon Tommy.
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03/02/2012, 06:37 PM
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#9 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Strongsville
Posts: 3,208
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This is so terrible to hear what happened to tommy. He is the nicest guy and can't believe something of this nature happened to him. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family tommy. Hang in there buddy! I wish you a speedy recovery and hope something like this never happens again! This is a for sure wake up call to everyone in the hobby and I'll try and be more careful when handling corals! I'm shocked to be reading this!! You're such a great guy man, take care.
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03/02/2012, 07:56 PM
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#10 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Berea, OH
Posts: 342
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Best wishes and hope for a speedy recovery from my family and I.
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03/02/2012, 08:02 PM
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#11 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: lakewood
Posts: 593
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Get well soon! Very scary stuff. I've read and have been careful about the palytoxins, I'm going to step it up to always wear gloves and keep some printed info on hand in case. My thoughts are with you and your family tommy
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03/02/2012, 08:19 PM
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#12 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Mentor Ohio
Posts: 256
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WOW!!!! he and his fam are amazingly lucky..prayers go out to them and hoping for a speedy recovery. just reminds you that you cant be overly cautious when you are in this hobby.
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03/02/2012, 08:46 PM
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#13 |
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Moved On
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Strongsville
Posts: 3,208
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That really blows my mind is to think such a tiny little thing could cause such damage!
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03/02/2012, 08:47 PM
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#14 |
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KING LEAR
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Cleveland Ohio area
Posts: 7,428
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For those that haven't researched palytoxin do a quick google search, crazy stuff
__________________
Coming up on 25 years in this hobby...That's a lot of skimmate Current Tank Info: Dsa 135 |
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03/02/2012, 09:11 PM
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#15 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bay Village, Ohio
Posts: 825
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Hope everything goes smoothly with the recovery.
Need to be more cautious when handling zoas/palys. |
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03/02/2012, 09:11 PM
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#16 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Bay Village, Ohio
Posts: 825
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03/02/2012, 09:28 PM
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#17 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Stow,Ohio
Posts: 1,662
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Tommy, I hope you have a fast recovery! Please let me know if there is anything I can do to support you Tommy in your recovery! Chef! If you know Tommy he is one great guy and is always in great spirits and loves reefing! so lets pull together and give Tommy all the support we can!Chef
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205g AGE Starfire, ATI T5 Hybrid Lighting, Octopus Extreme 3000 Skimmer, 2-Tunze 6105, 7096 Tunze Controller, 6215 Tunze Wave Maker, Tunze Osmolator, Apex Controller, GEO 618 Calcium Reactor, 285g Sys |
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03/02/2012, 09:37 PM
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#18 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Southwest Florida
Posts: 78
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Get better Tommy and family!!!
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03/02/2012, 10:47 PM
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#19 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Cleveland, OH
Posts: 433
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Tommy, my thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Get well soon!!
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03/03/2012, 01:01 AM
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#20 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Avon, Ohio
Posts: 152
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Get well bud, so glad to hear your on the up.
I read an article about a guy who was using boiling water in a syringe to kill off zoas like many people do to aiptasia. The steam was coming up through his tank water and same thing happened, he inhaled the toxin and was off the the ER....
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GOONIES NEVER SAY DIE!!!! Current Tank Info: Saltwater apocalypse. |
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03/03/2012, 08:08 AM
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#21 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Barberton, Ohio
Posts: 671
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Wishing you and your family a full and quick recovery.
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Roger Current Tank Info: 150g rimless aquarium, 55g sump, euroreef skimmer, 3 AI Vega colors, 2 Tunze 6105's, GFO GAC reactor, Neptune DOS dosing pumps, Mixed Reef |
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03/03/2012, 08:24 AM
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#22 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Rocky River,ohio
Posts: 1,116
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Wow! I’m sorry to hear that, .I would have never thought of needing a respirator that could have happened to anybody. Get well soon Tommy and family, if you need anything give me a call...
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03/03/2012, 08:24 AM
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#23 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Westside of Cleveland
Posts: 1,657
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Tommy hope you get better soon. Prayers go out to you for a fast recovery. If you need anything don't hesitate to let me know. Ben
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03/03/2012, 08:41 AM
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#24 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Lakewood Ohio
Posts: 221
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THANKS ERICK! I couldn't have typed all this yesterday.
I saw that several people said they would be changing their protocol when handling corals. That is the reason I asked for your help in posting. Thanks to the rest for the kind words. they were nice to hear from my friends but I probably do noy deserve them all!!!! Still in ICUs and a lot of blood coagulating in my lungs but fevers and chills are gone. Definitely feeling better, but very week and don't even have enough breath to blow my nose. That kinda freaked me out this morning when the respitory therapist gave me treatment. They art noy sure how much permanent damage I have done to my lungs and body cells in general. This can affect every cell in your body. Hopefully I will get out of icu tomorrow baring another setback, and then transfer to a regular bed for a a few more days according to my doc. My family are doing better but my wife has missed a few days work and is still sick. My wife daughter and son were in the room above me and all three were sick with bad chills and fevers the first night and the were in the dining ABOVE the slop sink in the basement where I was!!! Oh ya do not forget that scientist studying paly toxin have found that the toxin has been found in other nearby corals that do not produce it on their own, so that other coral you got from someone else may also be toxic! Again thanks for the kind words, I don't deserve most of them,lol. Peace, Tommy |
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03/03/2012, 09:26 AM
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#25 |
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Registered Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: South Euclid, OH
Posts: 4,281
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Wow, glad to hear everything is okay & get well soon.
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80g Rimless Acropora System reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2197142&page=31 Ed |
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