Aquarium water

[Breakthecycle2]

Just a quick question. The other day, I couldn't get my gravel syphon to work, so, like an idiot, I put it in my damn mouth and sucked the water out. Not realizing that there was alrready some in the tube, of course, it went into my mouth. I spit it right back out but I still got a taste. Can something like that make you sick, because later that night, or early the next morning, I got a fever and stomah pains. It only lasted for a day, but it was just weird and I thought maybe they where connected.

 

[toadie]

I'm no expert on it, but it seems like all the fish poo and pee, not to mention the bacteria and decaying food that were potentially in the water could make one a bit sick even without swallowing any of it. The mucous lining in your mouth is not the best barrier against infection although skin and mucous are supposed to protect us from disease.

I'd swear that I got e.coli from swimming in a lake in Guatemala and I didn't drink any of the water and got very little in my mouth or up my nose so I suppose it is possible that even the tiny bit of water you got in your mouth did make you a bit ill.

Hope you're feeling better.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

I figured that it could. Yeah, I feel better today, but I just did it again. I need to figure out some other way, to get this stupid Vacuum to work.

 

[Teelie]

It's certainly possible to get sick from it. Usually the worst you get is a mild stomach flu but sometimes you can contract worse illnesses and in extreme cases hospitalizations. Best thing to do is thoroughly rinse with mouth wash and tap water if you have to do that with the siphon.

Oh yeah, to get the siphon to work right, submerge it side ways then pull it up with the opening facing upwards, let the water start to drain then submerge it again sideways and then downwards. It takes some practice but it beats sucking on the hose to get it working.

 

[toadie]

Gee, I teach science so you'd think I'd be able to help you to get it to work. Is it the kind of vacuum that you kind of wiggle up and down in the tank to start the siphoning process? Is there something stuck in the safety valve (if there is one)?
You could always buy another vacuum... or continue to do experiments on yourself and let us know if you get sick again.

oops - I see you already got an answer from Teelie. Sorry I wasn't more help.

 

[Teelie]

One other thing, wash your hands afterwards with soap too if you don't already do that. Wash up as far as you stick your hands/arms into the tank to make sure you don't catch something later.

 

[pica_nuttalli]

slowly thread the entire length of tubing under the waterline. you want there to be a minimum amount of air trapped in the tube. tightly press your thumb over the end that goes in the bucket so that no water can escape. pull that end out of the tank and place over your bucket. release your thumb.

 

[Bignose]

OK, maybe I am not as easily scared or something here, but unless there is some rampant mutant disease in your tank, there is nothing a healthy immune system should not be able to take care of in there. As far as I know (and please correct me if you know something else), the only disease that can jump the fish-human barrier is tuberculosis (TB) and even then, the TB that the fish gets is not the really dangerous one to us. People, there is bacteria on everything, everywhere: fishtank, restroom, kitchen, your food.

Now, if you have a compromised immune system (like you have AIDS) or something like that, there are precautions that should be taken. A google search comes up with several pages that talk about it. I don't think it would be wise to swallow a big chunk of anything...

But a little fish water? It really, really should not cause anything.

 

[greyko]

Worst i've had is a sore throat for a little while, and a slight burning sensation on my lips when using the siphon went wrong, back when I had gold fish.

I imagine if you swallowed some you could definitely get stomach pains.

 

[Tropjunky]

In my persanal experiance it's unlikely to get anything that'll kill u. i start my syphons like most jus suck on the tube til the water comes out. it's not the nicest way to do it mainly cos it's like drinking piss or something. I've never had even the slightes of problems.

 

[annka5]

I agree, could make you sick.
Also, and am not being cheeky, the expectation of being ill and dwelling on it can make me feel worse -e.g. if you're thinking, how ill am I? etc. Particularly with a stomach ache or nausea -after all the thought of drinking fish poo probably would make you feel a bit more queasy!

 

[ncjharris]

Also, and am not being cheeky, the expectation of being ill and dwelling on it can make me feel worse -e.g. if you're thinking, how ill am I? etc.

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I agree - there has to be a placebo affect here.

As has been said, if you are a healthy person, fish water won't do too much to you. Even if you swallow some, stomach acids are going to kill most of whats in there before it has a chance to do anything.

I suppose it depends on at what point in the cycle you are at too - more ammonia would cause burning sensations, where as higher nitrates would lead to cramps? Just a guess..............

 

[freddyk]

When it comes down to it, aquarium water can make you sick, but the chances of it happening is very, very slim. Slim enough that it isn't worth worrying about. I can't count the number of times I've gotten a taste over the years.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Well, thats the thing, Theres no ammonia but there alot of nitirites. Also, I wasn't assuming the water is what made me sick, i was just thinking if that had something to do with it.

 

[Breakthecycle2]

Well, thats the thing, Theres no ammonia but there alot of nitirites. Also, I wasn't assuming the water is what made me sick, i was just thinking if that had something to do with it.