Rash on arms!!!!

[drtash]

Question
Twice I have stuck my hand into my tank to remove my live rock. I now have an itchy rash. Looks like hives. Any idea of the cause?

 

[small triggers]

have you brushed up against the rock or any corals??? In all fairness Im totally allergic to saltwater (okay well I ALWAYS am itchy after i put my hands in my tank???) But part of that i think is due to my high nitrates,,, alot of disolved organics.

 

[sepulatian]

Some people are just allergic to it. You can pick up long aquarium gloves to protect yourself while working in the tank.

 

[rcreations]

When I first got into saltwater, I had the same thing happen. I think it was my skin's reaction to the saltwater, it wasn't used to it. But it went away and my skin got used to it. Now I can put my hands in the tank with no problem.

 

[beth]

I have always had this problem as well. There are a lot of live creatures on live rock, and some of them do have stinging cells.

 

[renogaw]

worst thing for me is anthelia. stings the crap out of me. luckily it all died in my tank crash...

 

[lkgrenegade22]

I have never had this problem but man it dries my skin out extremely bad after messing in the tank for a few minutes.

 

[drtash]

thanks for the input.

 

[dragonboy]

I just recently start having this problem in the last week I never had this problem before this is the first time it happen to me. I had saltwater tanks for at least 3 years and this is the first time ever to happen. I get these red bumps that look like hives and they itch like hell. I think it could be the high ammonia and nitrates because I was using the power head to blow on the sand bed and there were a lot of debris and dust that could have cause my skin to be allergic to it. I hope it won't acting up again the next time I stick my hand in the water.