Moderate Consumption of Reef Water

[eli@fijireefrock.com]

Oh by the way welcome to Canreef.

[cathyg_99]

it wont hurt you even if you were to drink it (dont know why you would) i just dont do it i got a hand pump it just makes me think of creepy crawly's and itchy! ugh!

[Pinnochio5]

Originally Posted by elias

Oh by the way welcome to Canreef.

Thanks! I'm a member of nano-reef.com as well. Disappointed I didn't find this forum earlier, ITS GREAT! Its loaded with as much of the great content as nano-reef.com, plus its Canadian.

you'll only do it a few times before you get to where you dont get a mouth full. I have definitly drank a few shot glasses in the time I have had the tank.

Bottoms up!

[Delphinus]

It's worse to get FW tank water in your mouth. SW just tastes .. well .. salty. Besides, what doesn't kill you only makes you stronger ... right? Something like that anyhow.

Sometimes I use a syringe to start a drip siphon when acclimating someone. For water changes if you're using a siphon hose with a little flapper thing then all you have to do is give the tube a few shakes and the siphon starts.

[abcha0s]

I agree with everyone else that the water is generally harmless; although harmful bacteria can on rare occasion be found in our tanks. The odds are certainally in favor of the water being safe, but not 100% of the time.

I would point out that if there was something bad in your water, spitting it out wouldn't really be much protection from anything. I can think of several analogies to illustrate that point, but I will refrain. Considering the acids in your stomach, bacteria probably has less of a chance of surviving there then it would in your mouth.

I personally start my siphons by sucking on the house, but make your own decision. Don't assume that the water in your tank is harmless just because I haven't got sick from the water in my tank.

- Brad

[mike31154]

I'm sure we've all cleaned out our skimmers from time to time. We all know what our fish do in the water... What you're tasting is a highly diluted solution of what rises to the top of your skimmer. As mentioned, our bodies have immune systems, but clearly we're not immune to everything. Now that you're all grossed out, if you can get over the icky factor, probably not a whole lot of harm done, you may even be immunizing yourself in a rudimentary way. There are those who say every kid should eat a mouthful of dirt once in their lifetime, builds tolerance & immunity. In the end we're individuals and all have different tolerances towards certain things. Probably best to avoid too many shots of your tank water.

[pscott99]

If you don't want to invest in a pump just submerge tubing in a bucket of water, hold both ends, put one in the tank and the other below and suction begins naturally. A little water mess from the wet tubing but it works. No salty taste.

[Edmonton newbie]

Originally Posted by abcha0s

I agree with everyone else that the water is generally harmless; although harmful bacteria can on rare occasion be found in our tanks. The odds are certainally in favor of the water being safe, but not 100% of the time.

I would point out that if there was something bad in your water, spitting it out wouldn't really be much protection from anything. I can think of several analogies to illustrate that point, but I will refrain. Considering the acids in your stomach, bacteria probably has less of a chance of surviving there then it would in your mouth.

I personally start my siphons by sucking on the house, but make your own decision. Don't assume that the water in your tank is harmless just because I haven't got sick from the water in my tank.

- Brad

id just like to know how brad gets the siphons going by sucking his house? could you please post a quick video of this brad

[Rogue951]

Don't worry about it unless u have a weak immune system and open sores in your mouth. Rinse with listerine.
If youre really worried dilute with fresh water.
might have a night of the runs but not gonna kill you. (assuming u don't dose abnormally)