Rash on arms after cleaning sump

ReddingReef · 09/08/2009, 02:35 PM

I cleaned my 100g sump last night and while I had my arms in the water I could feel little stings occurring but I persisted and now I have a pretty nasty rash on the inside of my arms. This happened a couple of months ago when I received some fresh LR from the Indian Ocean while I was washing it in fresh RO water. The problem seemed to go away. Its back......What causes it? I know now to wear long rubber gloves. Is there anything I can put on the rash? Does this happen to any of you?

Sisterlimonpot · 09/08/2009, 02:46 PM

I guess it comes down to what it was that caused the rash... it might be a sensitivity to salt water or you might have something in your sump that is stinging you like aiptasia or something like that. depending on what it is, cortisone cream would work, soak your arm in hot water to draw it out, or an antihistamine to help, but unless you can determine what it is than you may be taking a shot in the dark. I would venture to think that you are more sensitive to the saltwater than most. I get it every now and then after sticking my arms in the water. but it is a good practice to wear shoulder length gloves. (I used to until I poked a hole in them for my urchin)

Sugar Magnolia · 09/08/2009, 02:46 PM

Try rubbing some cortisone cream on the rash and take some Benadryl if it's itchy. I had that happen to me about 6 years ago when setting up a nano. It turns out there was a filter feeding cucumber that hitched in on the rocks, and it released it's toxin as a defense mechanism when I was doing the rockscaping.

ReddingReef · 09/08/2009, 03:12 PM

Thanks for the help, I've tried cortisone cream and it had no effect. When I get home I'll try the hot water bath and the Benadryl.

I've been around saltwater for years w/o any issues. I've snorkeled all over the world. There is definitely something in the sump....no aiptasia that I've seen. Maybe as I get older I'm becoming sensitive to the water. I have two independent sump systems and it appears to be something in this particular one.

seapug · 09/08/2009, 03:20 PM

I've been doing some pretty extensive reworking of my aquascape over the past two weekends. Between the dry skin, fish bites, bristleworm encounters, scrapes and scratches my arms look like I'm an IV drug user. The itching and wounds usually go away after a few days of washing with soap and applying some moisturizer, but if you have extreme sensitivity to the saltwater you might consider getting a pair of shoulder length gloves.

ReddingReef · 09/08/2009, 03:28 PM

I have the shoulder length gloves but have not taken them out of the box.....bought them after the first reaction with the LR but since it has not happened since....what the heck, leave them in the box. It's a pretty box but it may be time to throw the box away and use the gloves. My rash looks like diaper rash or an extreme case of measles.

Wrobel278 · 09/08/2009, 03:34 PM

+1 on the gloves. Not only do they protect your arms, but also the tank from whatever might be on your arms(eg. lotion, soap residue, deodorant....).

Saltyllama · 09/08/2009, 03:45 PM

I'd also recommend the "so you touched it, now what" videos on youtube. Lot's of good info.

arredondojason · 09/08/2009, 04:24 PM

i have the same thing happen to me whenever i do work in my tank for a long time ie scraping the glass or cleaning the sump i think it is something in the salt since it is not true salt water because i never have this reaction when i go surfing. just takes a couple of days to go away.

Zestay · 09/08/2009, 04:29 PM

also could be zooanthid toxin.
anemone toxin
any number of SPS or LPS have chemical warfare.
cucumber toxin
could also be salt in your pores
the list goes on
keep a close eye on it. dont be afraid to goto a hospital if it gets worse.

ReddingReef · 09/08/2009, 04:46 PM

Found this on a Derm website: Is this possible in an aquarium?

Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to an infestation with certain parasites of birds and mammals. Immature larval forms (cercariae), of parasitic flatworms (schistosomes), are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water, such as lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Swimmer's itch develops on exposed areas of the skin after contact with these larval forms when they mistakenly penetrate the person's skin (rather than its usual host, a duck).

Zestay · 09/09/2009, 04:41 AM

looks more like a freshwater thing.

tashbridge · 09/09/2009, 05:10 AM

i would go to a dr. instead of asking some random people on a forum!!

ReddingReef · 09/09/2009, 06:22 AM

These random people on this forum have a much better understanding of what can happen to you when you stick your hand where it does not belong than a doctor who has never seen a diver exposed to LR from the Indian Ocean.

Juruense · 09/09/2009, 08:40 AM

Sounds like sump herpes which, like most forms of herpes, is incurable. Sorry...

ReddingReef · 09/09/2009, 09:48 AM

Juruense your just the type of random person I was referring to, worldly, exposed to exotic animals and situations. and knowledgeable. Thanks for the help.

Juruense · 09/09/2009, 10:30 AM

No problem!

//bill is in the mail

09/08/2009, 02:35 PM	#1
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	Rash on arms after cleaning sump I cleaned my 100g sump last night and while I had my arms in the water I could feel little stings occurring but I persisted and now I have a pretty nasty rash on the inside of my arms. This happened a couple of months ago when I received some fresh LR from the Indian Ocean while I was washing it in fresh RO water. The problem seemed to go away. Its back......What causes it? I know now to wear long rubber gloves. Is there anything I can put on the rash? Does this happen to any of you? __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/08/2009, 02:46 PM	#2
Sisterlimonpot R.C. Fraternity President Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Litchfeild Park AZ Posts: 11,490 Blog Entries: 2	I guess it comes down to what it was that caused the rash... it might be a sensitivity to salt water or you might have something in your sump that is stinging you like aiptasia or something like that. depending on what it is, cortisone cream would work, soak your arm in hot water to draw it out, or an antihistamine to help, but unless you can determine what it is than you may be taking a shot in the dark. I would venture to think that you are more sensitive to the saltwater than most. I get it every now and then after sticking my arms in the water. but it is a good practice to wear shoulder length gloves. (I used to until I poked a hole in them for my urchin) __________________ Jimmy MASVC President Dishes are done man! Current Tank Info: 300 in progress

09/08/2009, 02:46 PM	#3
Sugar Magnolia Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Northern VA Posts: 17,691	Try rubbing some cortisone cream on the rash and take some Benadryl if it's itchy. I had that happen to me about 6 years ago when setting up a nano. It turns out there was a filter feeding cucumber that hitched in on the rocks, and it released it's toxin as a defense mechanism when I was doing the rockscaping. __________________ Adrienne The only thing to fear is fear itself....and spiders.

09/08/2009, 03:12 PM	#4
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	Thanks for the help, I've tried cortisone cream and it had no effect. When I get home I'll try the hot water bath and the Benadryl. I've been around saltwater for years w/o any issues. I've snorkeled all over the world. There is definitely something in the sump....no aiptasia that I've seen. Maybe as I get older I'm becoming sensitive to the water. I have two independent sump systems and it appears to be something in this particular one. __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/08/2009, 03:20 PM	#5
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I've been doing some pretty extensive reworking of my aquascape over the past two weekends. Between the dry skin, fish bites, bristleworm encounters, scrapes and scratches my arms look like I'm an IV drug user. The itching and wounds usually go away after a few days of washing with soap and applying some moisturizer, but if you have extreme sensitivity to the saltwater you might consider getting a pair of shoulder length gloves. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/08/2009, 03:28 PM	#6
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	I have the shoulder length gloves but have not taken them out of the box.....bought them after the first reaction with the LR but since it has not happened since....what the heck, leave them in the box. It's a pretty box but it may be time to throw the box away and use the gloves. My rash looks like diaper rash or an extreme case of measles. __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/08/2009, 03:34 PM	#7
Wrobel278 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Monroe, NJ Posts: 133	+1 on the gloves. Not only do they protect your arms, but also the tank from whatever might be on your arms(eg. lotion, soap residue, deodorant....).

09/08/2009, 03:45 PM	#8
Saltyllama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 283	I'd also recommend the "so you touched it, now what" videos on youtube. Lot's of good info. __________________ 90 gallon RR w/ megaflow, mixed reef softie/LPS/SPS, 22 gallon split sump/fuge, BM NAC7 cone skimmer, GFO reactor, 4 bulb icecap 660 T5 retro Current Tank Info: 90 gallon w/ 22 gallon (actual volume) sump/fuge

09/08/2009, 04:24 PM	#9
arredondojason Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Portland, OR Posts: 988	i have the same thing happen to me whenever i do work in my tank for a long time ie scraping the glass or cleaning the sump i think it is something in the salt since it is not true salt water because i never have this reaction when i go surfing. just takes a couple of days to go away.

09/08/2009, 04:29 PM	#10
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	also could be zooanthid toxin. anemone toxin any number of SPS or LPS have chemical warfare. cucumber toxin could also be salt in your pores the list goes on keep a close eye on it. dont be afraid to goto a hospital if it gets worse.

09/08/2009, 04:46 PM	#11
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	Found this on a Derm website: Is this possible in an aquarium? Swimmer's itch, also called cercarial dermatitis, is a skin rash caused by an allergic reaction to an infestation with certain parasites of birds and mammals. Immature larval forms (cercariae), of parasitic flatworms (schistosomes), are released from infected snails into fresh and salt water, such as lakes, ponds, and lagoons. Swimmer's itch develops on exposed areas of the skin after contact with these larval forms when they mistakenly penetrate the person's skin (rather than its usual host, a duck). __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/09/2009, 04:41 AM	#12
Zestay Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: gainesville, FL Posts: 1,622	looks more like a freshwater thing.

09/09/2009, 05:10 AM	#13
tashbridge Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Midlothian, VA Posts: 411	i would go to a dr. instead of asking some random people on a forum!! __________________ Do Wuht!?!? Current Tank Info: 120g

09/09/2009, 06:22 AM	#14
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	These random people on this forum have a much better understanding of what can happen to you when you stick your hand where it does not belong than a doctor who has never seen a diver exposed to LR from the Indian Ocean. __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/09/2009, 08:40 AM	#15
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	Sounds like sump herpes which, like most forms of herpes, is incurable. Sorry...

09/09/2009, 09:48 AM	#16
ReddingReef Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Bethel,CT Posts: 89	Juruense your just the type of random person I was referring to, worldly, exposed to exotic animals and situations. and knowledgeable. Thanks for the help. __________________ Bob Rule of thirds: Sometimes I'm correct, sometimes I'm wrong and other times it just doesn't matter... Current Tank Info: 220gal FW, 40g sump, 30g refugium

09/09/2009, 10:30 AM	#17
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	No problem! //bill is in the mail