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Important lesson, dont let your tank kill you!!!!

Discussion in 'General Discussion' started by xroads, Mar 2, 2012.

  1. Mar 2, 2012 #1
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    Taken from forum of the Lake Erie Reefers

























    Tommy (Tcat3rd) Almost died Wednesday evening after being exposed to the deadly Palytoxin from zoanthids left over night in a bucket. The zoo's were have dead from leaving them over night in a bucket so he decided to clean the rocks off in his utility tub with hot water and scrubbing them. He was full aware of the danger of the toxin, he used eye protection and full length gloves to clean the rocks. What he didn't protect was his lungs, the hot water and steam from the water made the toxin airborne. After 20 minutes of cleaning the rocks he went up stairs, feeling sick to his stomach. after another half hour passed he was ready to head to the emergency room but before he left he printed out articles on the toxin to take with him. In the waiting room he became almost paralyzed and started to cough up blood, his lungs were filling up with blood as well. The Dr's treated him with everything the could think of and were getting results, they called in the priest for last rights that evening and didn't think he'd make it through the night. Thursday morning they continued massive treat of antibiotics and steroids with little improvement. Today he's on his way back from his death bed and will be in the hospital for days to run tests and monitor his progress. We wanted me to post up to let everyone know and to remind them the dangers of our tanks. Thoughts and prayers go out to Tommy and his family, which also got sick from the toxin just not as bad as Tommy did being in closer range to the steam.
     
  2. Mar 2, 2012 #2
    nick

    nick Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Holly crap thanks for posting this. I was once working palys off a rock with a screw driver and it slipped and jabbed into my hand. By the next morning I had red streaking running up too my elbow. So glad mine wasn't so bad. Good luck to him and his family
     
  3. Mar 2, 2012 #3
    Shaun

    Shaun Inactive User

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    Wishing the best for them all. Good thing he printed the info on what he was poisoned with.
     
  4. Mar 3, 2012 #4
    ninjazx777 Des Moines, IA

    ninjazx777 Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Paul from Paul's corals had a dog die from eating one that had dried out for months on some live rock and fell off when he moved the rocks the dog grabbed it before he could stop it. the dog died in less then an hour
     
  5. Mar 3, 2012 #5
    nrenn Waverly, Iowa

    nrenn Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    Maybe there is one already, but has anyone thought about making a thread about the potential dangers of some livestock a sticky in the new members forum? I was reefing for almost a year before I heard about palytoxin being present in one of the most common and easy to raise corals, and I had plenty in my tank at that point.
     
  6. Mar 3, 2012 #6
    xroads La Porte City, IA

    xroads Veteran Reefkeeper Vendor

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    You read my mind, I started writing it up this morning!
     
  7. Mar 3, 2012 #7
    Tholton33

    Tholton33 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I think it reefcentral, maybe 3reef. But its a long thread talking about the risks and dangers and many first hand experiences and recoveries.

    I read about a guy who fragged a few zoas in a small tupperware container, then returned them to the tank. Came back to his dog drinking the water out of the container. He mentioned it was just a quick drink. The dog didn't make it past an hour later. Be cautious when cleaning up after you frag too
     
  8. Mar 3, 2012 #8
    Tholton33

    Tholton33 Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    I think it reefcentral, maybe 3reef. But its a long thread talking about the risks and dangers and many first hand experiences and recoveries.

    I read about a guy who fragged a few zoas in a small tupperware container, then returned them to the tank. Came back to his dog drinking the water out of the container. He mentioned it was just a quick drink. The dog didn't make it past an hour later. Be cautious when cleaning up after you frag too
     
  9. Mar 3, 2012 #9
    erayk1 Coralville, IA

    erayk1 Well-Known ReefKeeper Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member

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    To be honest Craig, I would make that a sticking in the general forum area or something. Most people I talk to that have been doing this hobby for a while still don't know about this!
     
  10. Mar 3, 2012 #10
    nrenn Waverly, Iowa

    nrenn Well-Known ReefKeeper

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    and pass on the suggestion to the other sites too. everyone should probably have something like this
     
  11. Mar 3, 2012 #11
    Bud West Des Moines, IA

    Bud Loves Bacon Website Team Board of Directors Leadership Team GIRS Member Vendor

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    +1 on all of that, I've been reefkeeping now for just over 2.5 years and I didn't hear about this on until within the last year I think. Some Paly Zoas sprung up in the Grove & Platt tank out of nowhere once it was back to coral-safe conditions again, and now there's dozens of them. The owner of the tank didn't know what they were until I told him, let alone how dangerous they could be.

    After reading up on Palytoxin, I about crapped my pants.
     
  12. Mar 3, 2012 #12
    bobsfish

    bobsfish Experienced Reefkeeper

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    Wow...I had NO IDEA. Thanks for shaing this. Yes, I agree there should be a post of general dangers and toxins. After reading this post, I have concluded that I've been far too lax and careless !!
     

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