Hi,

I tested Ethel's tank yesterday. The ammonia was a little high, say maybe .25. I had done a 25% water changed the day earlier (She is a Black Moor Goldfish). So I decided to use Ammonia remober instead of another water change.

I accidentally spilled maybe, hmm, it was the smallest amount on my left arm. Perhaps, laess than an sivteenth of a teaspoon.

About 1/2 hour later, my skin started to get itchy on my leg, then, both of my arms and legs and neck had completely broken out in raised red hives.

I took to benadryl, and of course fell asleep promptly. LOL. (10 hours I slept)

This morning I still have theses red hives, but to a lesser degree.

HAs something like this ever happened to any of you using fish chemicals?

I do not think I will use this product again and stick to orange slices suctioned on the wall of the tank.

Pardon any typos it is 6 am and I still feel drugged.
Thanks.

I'm sorry about your problem. I've never spilled aquarium chemicals on myself that were strong enough to cause a reaction. Does the bottle list the active ingredients? I did a quick search and can't find the company's web site. I haven't used their products. I hope you feel better. If the hives don't go away soon, see a doctor.

What do orange slices have to do with lowering ammonia?

Hi Robyn,

The ingredients aren't listed, I checked that forst thing. I called the 1 800 number on the back of the bottle and it lead me to Petsmart in WISCONSIN!?!
I explained what had happened to me and the (young) fella gave me another phone number.
I said "Is it for Top Fin?"
He said "No it is a veterinary clinic in WI".
How will they be able to help me?
They might know what's in it.
Why don't I just call my own vet?
I don't know?
(In the meantime it is starting to burn and spread worse.)
I took the number down, dialed it. it was someother thing. I gave up. I called my school nurse at home. (I am a teacher) SHe know how sensitive I am to meds and chems and smells (scents) SHe suggested a bath and itching cream, not to take the benadryl ubless I just couldn't stan it. I did all that. Walked down the block to my friend Sally's house who is an LPN. She said take the benadryl and stay with me for awhile.
So I did. We then for a walk. The rash did not go away. When she was sure I was not going to have a reaction she walked me back home. Sally suggested calling poison control, but I was really tired from the benadryl. That is when I went to bed.
Now it is Saturday, I still have the hives and rash. I know this is a long story.

I really hate going to doctors... I will try more beandryl and call poison control today.

Orange Slices,

I went to Petsmart and talked to an experienced "fish tender" person and told her of my ammonia problem. She laughed and said It's a Goldfish?
I said Yes
Well theay are well knowing for eating and sh*tting. (Her words, not mine)
She suggested, a plastic clip, and an orange, slice the orance so it is a circle shape, then slice it again so it is a semi circle. Clip the rind part on the the special plastic clip made for aquariums,, then suction it against the side of the tank. The fish nibble at the meat of the orange and leave the rind. For whatever reason it helps neutralize the ammnoia not totallt, but one can gain some control over it. Sometimes I will take a small piece of a rind and put it in the filter.

So that is the end for now...

Hi Karen
Get yourself to a doctor! A rash that resists that long needs look at. Also is it legal there for active ingredients not to be listed on the product and not to have an emergency number (that works to the company)? That's nuts. You guys have the Better Business Bureau down there? If so, call them.

Sure hope you are feeling better.

As for the orange, perhaps it alters slightly the chemical makeup of the poop so that it isn't so high in the stuff algae likes??? LOL, no idea really. ;)

Hi RT3,

I was in the store shopping so I asked my pharmacist. He said it should eventually dissipate. He said it looked like systemic dermatitis. I am beginning to think that it may be something else...a lotion, a soap, and or a combo of all that plus the ammonia remover. I do not know.

If it remains the same or does not get better, I will go to doc. But I am going to give it a day or two more. I am not having any anaphalactic shock so...
I really am fine.
I was just wondering if this happened to anyone else.

I also called poison control, they would not give me the ingredients of it. Oh well,

In answer to your question, I have never had anything like that break me out. About the only thing that does is cedar (have to wear a long sleeve shirt when trimming the hedge). Other than that, I guess I am lucky!

Hmmm, cedar... I have been working with my new arborvitaes...Maybe it was a combo and the ammonia pushed it over the edge. Only the shadow knows...Well I have just taken the benadryl...so I will soon be...ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ, LOL.

Karen, I hope you are getting better.

I believe that by law, the only ingredients of anything that must be listed are for human food. That means that even the ingredients in foods meant for pets do not have to be full disclosure. That's why when they had the melamine in gluten problem, it was showing up in foods that didn't even list gluten because they aren't required to list it. Even in human foods, they can say "natural flavors" or "natural colors" and not have to specify what the actual source is. It can really be almost anything including things someone might be allergic too. Companies are paranoid that their secret ingredients will get out so anybody can copy them. It's a legitimate concern but not as important in my mind than letting consumers know what's in it.

Goldfish produce no more waste per mass than any other fish. That is one of those myths that people put out, that goldfish produce more poop than other fish. If you factor in total mass, they make no more than other fish. Because goldfish tend to be heavier for the same length than say a super skinny gar, people have given them a bad poo wrap.

I don't see how eating oranges would reduce the ammonia output. Ammonia is basic and oranges have citric and ascorbic acid which are acidic. So, eating oranges will create more acidic waste but it doesn't prevent ammonia. It may lower the pH (extremely minutely). Ammonia (NH3) once below pH 7 becomes ammonium (NH4+) which is less toxic. The same thing can be accomplished by keeping the pH of the tank below 7. Goldfish like a pH from 7 to 8 so they don't want acidic water. There is a risk with ammonia and pH. If there is a lot of ammonium in the tank from waste, and the pH is below 7, and, then, for some reason, the pH goes up above 7, then it becomes toxic ammonia and fish can die fast if that pH goes up while the ammonia/ammonium is high.

Sorry, I've probably just confused you more!

"bad poo wrap"

Sounds like the new happy meal from MacDonalds! :lol: :D

I looked up MSDSonline.com, got alot of hits (2440). lol Sorry, that's as far as I can go. Petsmarts the seller, probably not the manufacturer..you need that to narrow the search. Did you try contacting the manufacturer? Usually 'secret' makeups have to do with the amounts, all you need to know is if you're allergic to any of the chemicals themselves. Hope you're feeling better.

Sadie there is no phone number for them.

Robyn, My pH is consistently 7, for me the orange works and I don't know why...

And I am feeling much better today. The rash has subsided save for a spot on my leg.

I can understand companies not wanting their ingredients let out (Kinda like The Soup Nazi on Seinfeld) but I will never be sure what gave me the rash now. Atleast I am better. But no more benadryl it gives a BAD headache!

Thanks for everyone's help and concern! :D

I'm glad you are better! You spilled the ammonia remover on your leg, or the hives/rash just migrated down there? If you got hives/rash all over, that tends to be from something injested or exposed to all over and not just a localized reaction.

What is your tap water pH? If it's close to pH 7 then having the tank at pH 7 would be expected.