Do aquariums hold health issues?

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Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Nov 7, 2015
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Minnesota
So this might not belong here, buts it's an odd question and I've nowhere else to put it, so here it is.

Backstory- for the past year or so, I've had "allergies" all year round. I mean, severe. Breathing issues, nose, all manner of gross crap. But the Docs aren't finding anything new or worsened in terms of allergies, in fact I have no severe reactions to anything but pollen and no asthma or any other diagnosed problem. They're just putting it to allergies ("they" being everyone up to this point) However, I did mention through conversation that I have aquariums (well only 1 set up right now) in my bedroom and the doctor said that it could be a possible contributor.

Her reasoning was as follows: First, it give of moisture which can turn to mold and cause breathing and other problems, but neither me or my parents have seen mold, although I've gotten the carpet wet so it could be in the subfloor, scary thought.

Her other reason was that due to the filters splashing, tiny amounts of whatever grows in the water,all the algae and various bacteria and whatnot are being tossed I to the air and inhaled by yours truly. It makes sense, like how if you flush a toilet while open it sends out a mist of urine-and-feces water.

I'm not worried about ammonia or whatever, my fish would be dead if they were the culprit. But does the theory of stuff being spread into the air hold any merit?

I also know that many people have tanks and no problems and I have too up until a year ago, but it was at that point when I had the most gallonage in my bedroom.

So yeah... Smarter minds send me some thoughts
 
I'm allergic to bloodworms

I was about to say, i've heard a lot of people are allergic to bloodworms and can get reactions from itchy skin to other issues...

Also, do you dose your tank with any chems or ferts??? Coz maybe those could be contributors as well???
 
If you have any doubt about mold in your bedroom you should have someone come to your home and check out your room. You can also use a indoor thermometer that has a humidity scale to see how moist the room is. Tbh if you had mold in your room there will be a noticeable smell.
 
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I don't use bloodworms anymore, stopped about 6 months ago. I have heard about that though.

My family is considering checking for mold, however if it's found it might be bye-bye fish tanks... Plz no mold. And smells... I'm a teenager. Nuff said? Lol

I also don't use any extra meds, Ferts, or Chems whatsoever aside from dechlorinator, including carbon and all that filter stuff... Just don't really seem to need it.

Pretty sure if anything it would be the micro-whatever in the water, although I could be missing something.
 
Dont think i've heard of people allergic to decholinator, but it could entirely be possible something in your tank water could be causing your allergies...

Then again, if as you said you have carpet in your room, could it be trapped dust in said carpet causing your allergies???
 
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I suppose I could, but my whole house is carpeted and allergies have only really kicked up in the past year, which is again when I've had the most tanks up, which could totally be complete coincidence. But might not be, which is just why I'm asking if anyone knows.

I use Prime, by the way
 
Tbh if you had mold in your room there will be a noticeable smell.
Hello; My comment already answered in following quote.

I'm a teenager. Nuff said? Lol

Hello; Here is the deal about carpet. I installed carpet for a time years ago and had tanks on carpet. The carpet itself probably is not the bigger issue although still a problem when wet. The nap likely is some sort of polymer (plastic) so wont soak up much water. The backing might be an issue if it is jute backed, not so much if the backing is also a polymer.
The carpet itself can be dried out over time and sometimes can be reused if it is wet only a short while or not too loaded with dirt.
The bigger issue with wet carpet is the foam under pad. The water gets under that and is hard to dry out. Even if the carpet is reusable, the pad likely will need to be replaced.
We humans shed skin al the time. We track in dirt and other organic stuff which gets down in the carpet nap. Then there is the wood floor under the carpet. All that leads to mold when wet long enough.
Tanks and wet floors. tanks leak. I spill and let water get on my floor during tank activities. carpet under a metal stand might have a better chance to dry out but a lot of the wooden stands have a flat plank bottom. water migrates under that and stays a long time. I stopped putting tanks on carpet many years ago. I took up the carpet in the room with my tanks and put down the heavy duty tiles like seen in a grocery store.

Good luck but my bet is you have mold.
 
Yeah it's a possibility I know I've got the carpet wet before... Hmm

That would really suck

I wish I had somewhere else to put it, but... Well I dont.

I can believe it may be a mold issue, but still *hoping* it could be another issue... Any ideas as to anything else I may not have heard of?
 
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