Weird Refugium Issue

zeeter · 03/05/2012, 01:27 PM

It seems that whenever I do maintenance on my refugium I get a stinging feeling on my thumb or whatever finger I happen to be moving things with. The skin dries out and probably dies.

Could this be an issue with bristle worms in the refugium? There are two clarkis in there with a LTA, but I seem to be immune to all anemone stings except for the Ritteri, which gives me itchy bumps. Plus I don't make it a habit of touching anemones in the first place.

tebstan · 03/05/2012, 01:39 PM

What else do you have in there? A fuge is usually for macro, but that's one thing you didn't mention.

Are you raking your hand through the sand? If so, then probably worms like you mentioned. If it's just while touching the water, check equipment for stray leakage.

kieffer_5 · 03/05/2012, 05:05 PM

my guess is bristle worms but ive heard hydros sting you also i dont have any backround on them but try looking them up

aleonn · 03/05/2012, 06:58 PM

The first thing that comes to mind is stray voltage, which you can rule out with a voltmeter.

kelrn98 · 03/05/2012, 07:32 PM

+1 on stray voltage.

dkerns06 · 03/05/2012, 07:33 PM

Im with stray voltage also. I had the exact same problem.

zeeter · 03/05/2012, 08:29 PM

The more I think of it, the more I'm going with bristle worms. It's not an electric feeling and does only happen when I mess with the sand.

Sk8r · 03/05/2012, 09:55 PM

Probably worms..They're good cleaners, but wear latex gloves. Vinegar can help dissolve the bristle in your fingers.
Also don't be too confident about tolerating marine stings: a sensitivity can build up and be a real problem with continuing the hobby. I knew an lfs owner who had it bad. Latex gloves are actually kinder to your nem, because they invest a lot of energy into repairing their lost harpoon-cells. Don't make them fire them if you can avoid it. And they won't, with the gloves.

03/05/2012, 01:27 PM	#1
zeeter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 386	Weird Refugium Issue It seems that whenever I do maintenance on my refugium I get a stinging feeling on my thumb or whatever finger I happen to be moving things with. The skin dries out and probably dies. Could this be an issue with bristle worms in the refugium? There are two clarkis in there with a LTA, but I seem to be immune to all anemone stings except for the Ritteri, which gives me itchy bumps. Plus I don't make it a habit of touching anemones in the first place.

03/05/2012, 01:39 PM	#2
tebstan Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Texas Posts: 961	What else do you have in there? A fuge is usually for macro, but that's one thing you didn't mention. Are you raking your hand through the sand? If so, then probably worms like you mentioned. If it's just while touching the water, check equipment for stray leakage. __________________ Washington's Rule #110: Labor to keep alive in your breast that little spark of celestial fire called conscience.

03/05/2012, 07:32 PM	#5
kelrn98 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Biloxi, MS Posts: 856	+1 on stray voltage. __________________ ~Kelly~ Current Tank Info: 96x24x30 -300g mixed reef: 75g sump, 35g fuge, 2x MP60, 4x Radion Pros, reef octopus X5000 skimmer, way too much LR and a few fish

03/05/2012, 09:55 PM	#8
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Probably worms..They're good cleaners, but wear latex gloves. Vinegar can help dissolve the bristle in your fingers. Also don't be too confident about tolerating marine stings: a sensitivity can build up and be a real problem with continuing the hobby. I knew an lfs owner who had it bad. Latex gloves are actually kinder to your nem, because they invest a lot of energy into repairing their lost harpoon-cells. Don't make them fire them if you can avoid it. And they won't, with the gloves. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

03/05/2012, 05:05 PM	#3
kieffer_5 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Posts: 66	my guess is bristle worms but ive heard hydros sting you also i dont have any backround on them but try looking them up

03/05/2012, 06:58 PM	#4
aleonn Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 4,041	The first thing that comes to mind is stray voltage, which you can rule out with a voltmeter.

03/05/2012, 07:33 PM	#6
dkerns06 Registered Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Beaver, PA Posts: 153	Im with stray voltage also. I had the exact same problem.

03/05/2012, 08:29 PM	#7
zeeter Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Posts: 386	The more I think of it, the more I'm going with bristle worms. It's not an electric feeling and does only happen when I mess with the sand.