Zoas - Polytoxins Are Real (1 Viewer)

[Cody]

I was cleaning out some tanks that still had some zoas in them on the bottom hidden under an inch or so of water on the back patio. I started cleaning the tanks yesterday and must have gotten a wiff even though I was outside. Allergies went bananas, lots of snot, and minor flu-like symptoms today. I should only last 24 hours, but I definitely got the reminder to wear a respirator and eye protection when handling dead/dying zoas!

 

[Bullitt519]

I typically wear a face shield and carbon painters mask when I do big batches lol I can afford a hospital bill.

 

[Tazman]

wow !!! gotta start using PPE when handling zoas and palys from now on

 

[wierzt]

Hope the symptoms pass quickly, glad it wasn't any worse!

 

[Cody]

wow !!! gotta start using PPE when handling zoas and palys from now on

I normally use one of these when I frag zoas, and I actually have a brand new one on hand. I just thought because I was outside that it wouldn't be an issue.

3M OV P95 Disposable Standard Respirator Mask, Size Medium 52P71C1-DC - The Home Depot

3M Solvent and Chemical Respirator is used by professionals for certain paint spraying, solvent and pesticide-based projects. Features a balanced design for more comfort, swept-back cartridges for improved

www.homedepot.com

I always wear gloves and eye protection, although I'll throw on the respirator when I'm making a lot of frags. I also frag underwater so the toxins are generally contained to the water. Just get a shallow plastic container, fill it with tank water, make maybe a dozen frags, let the glue dry, put the frags back in the tank, then chunk the water. Fill it up again, repeat, etc. It's better for the corals and better to chunk water that might have gotten some toxins in it.

 

[Cody]

Hope the symptoms pass quickly, glad it wasn't any worse!

Yeah I'm feeling much better now. I was talking with Randy from A Reef Creation earlier and he says he knows he got poisoned if his nose starts running a lot, and especially if he chest tightens up at all. He said he pops a couple Tylenol in the evening because he knows he's going to have flu-like symptoms for 24 hours or less, which was a similar experience to mine. I need to be more careful in the future. Not that I was super sick, but just because it was uncomfortable this morning. Mild chills and achy all over. I was starting to feel much better about the time I started this thread though and now I feel pretty normal.

 

[Reefahholic]

I don’t wear any protection. I never let them in the tank.

 

[Cody]

I don’t wear any protection. I never let them in the tank.

Or at least not until after marriage!

 

[Reefahholic]

Or at least not until after marriage!

I try to post this video every year.