Stinging sensation on my hand????

frankthetank

frankthetank

Active Member
I have a fluval 305 cannister on my 46g. Every couple of weeks I clean out the foam filters and just make sure everything is clean. I notice when I am rinsing out the foam filter pads that afterwards I get a stinging sensation in my hands for a few hours. It's almost like there are tiny splinters in my hand and when I rub one it stings the living daylights out of me. But, there is nothing visible on my hand. Anyone have this happen to them, and what is it?
 
watson3

watson3

Active Member
I forget what it is called, but there are stinging cells that most corals release that can cause irritation...Just do a search
 
bronco300

bronco300

Active Member
thats what it felt like exactly when i fell through the roof of my uncles house!!!! oh...haha...but it was how it felt when i got stung by a jelly in the ocean...you touch any stingers? or any zoos busted open lately?
 
frankthetank

frankthetank

Active Member
No this seems to only happen when I clean out the cannister filter. I know for a fact it's when I'm rinsing the foam filter pads out. As I'm running my hands and fingers through them to wash out any gunk that collected. I pick up something that causes stinging sensations for a few hours. I'm surprised no one has had something like this happen?
 
viper_930

viper_930

Active Member
My guess would be there's bristle worms hiding in the sponges. The bristles are hard to see once you get poked by them but if you shine a bright light on your hand you may be able to see them next time. IME bristle worms love to hang out in sponges, and the bristles themselves can fall off and get stuck in the sponge.
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
Originally Posted by ViPeR_930
My guess would be there's bristle worms hiding in the sponges. The bristles are hard to see once you get poked by them but if you shine a bright light on your hand you may be able to see them next time. IME bristle worms love to hang out in sponges, and the bristles themselves can fall off and get stuck in the sponge.
Thats what I was thinking as I read the post, either there are baby bristle worms in the sponges or the sponges are catching the shed spines and when you rinse them out you embedding them in your skin. maybe you should consider gloves for rinsing the sponges, bristle worm spines can be very annoying.
 
doboy

doboy

Member
Wash you hands in vinegar. The vinegar will dissolve the bristle worm spines. If you hold your hand in the right light, you should be able to see the spines. they look like little slivers of glass.
 
katiev

katiev

Member
Same thing was happening when I was rinsing my powerhead filter. Although I've never seen 'em, I believe they are bristle worms. The only solution is to wear gloves. I like the special heavy duty kind that go up to your elbow -- I have sensitive skin anyway, so the sea salt is aggravating, too.
Question: If I were to put the powerhead filter in a bucket of freshwater, would that get the suckers to come out?
 
reefkprz

reefkprz

Active Member
Originally Posted by katiev
Question: If I were to put the powerhead filter in a bucket of freshwater, would that get the suckers to come out?
nope, bristle worms can survive the dunking no worse for the wear, it will barely bother them.
 
frankthetank

frankthetank

Active Member
You know, I have never seen a bristle worm in my tank. But I believe you guys. It seems to be only when I am messing with the sponges/foam filters.
As a matter of fact, when I use to have a seaclone skimmer, the sponge on the maxijet would do the exact same thing to me when I cleaned it.
After a few hours it always goes away.
Well, maybe I will get some gloves.... or just deal with it.
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by katiev
I like the special heavy duty kind that go up to your elbow --
I have these same gloves and love them. (Edit: Oh wait, mine go up to my arm pit, lol.) I havn't used them to clean my sponge or powerheads though, I might after hearing this story. OUCH! :scared:
 
azfishgal

azfishgal

Active Member
Originally Posted by Doboy
Wash you hands in vinegar. The vinegar will dissolve the bristle worm spines. If you hold your hand in the right light, you should be able to see the spines. they look like little slivers of glass.
Don't you just love vinegar, can use it for just about anything.
 
seannmelly

seannmelly

Active Member
Originally Posted by FranktheTank
You know, I have never seen a bristle worm in my tank. But I believe you guys. It seems to be only when I am messing with the sponges/foam filters.
As a matter of fact, when I use to have a seaclone skimmer, the sponge on the maxijet would do the exact same thing to me when I cleaned it.
After a few hours it always goes away.
Well, maybe I will get some gloves.... or just deal with it.
next time you clean the sponges, look real close. you probably see the bristleworms
 
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