Don't start a siphon with your mouth...

[Mark Gray]

I would like to point out the man was 70 years old. Bacterial infections among the eldest of us are actually pretty common given the condition of their immune systems at that age. As Renee pointed out, its really no worse than swimming at the beach. Again, the immune system.
Food for thought, thought for food!

Oh good thing I was worried I am only 25, oh maybe I miss calculated that a little

 

[143MPCo]

I have one of these to start my siphon... as I'm only using it to "remove" water, it's not a big deal to me that it has copper fittings.

 

[Vincent100]

Wow 119 members,3,061 guests reading this thread ..... You know most siphon with their mouths lol

 

[Delta1389]

Makes me wonder if you can catch the flesh eating bacteria from your tank. We know it likes warm salt water.

 

[McMullen]

@Delta1389 Your already carrying the most common source of Nec Fasc. Not sure how common Vibrio is in our reef tanks but not a common cause of Nec Fasc. Do not fear your tank!

This is a really interesting medical case report, but is absolutely NO reason for anyone to change their current practice.

 

[Delta1389]

I definitely won't be changing my habits. I'll be doing my water change tonight creating a siphon with my mouth lol.

 

[His & Hers. 240 Reef]

Isolated "freak accident"

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

@Delta1389 Your already carrying the most common source of Nec Fasc. Not sure how common Vibrio is in our reef tanks but not a common cause of Nec Fasc. Do not fear your tank!

This is a really interesting medical case report, but is absolutely NO reason for anyone to change their current practice.

I definitely won't be changing my habits. I'll be doing my water change tonight creating a siphon with my mouth lol.

Isolated "freak accident"

My Magnesium tastes low.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Towel over the end of the tube helps to avoid the water in your mouth. Pretty simple trick, but the bacteria that sits in the tube for a while is the worst thing to inhale, it feels like you inhaled exhaust air from the skimmate cup

 

[clowner]

Ick eats my fish so i eat the ick its a cycle if i dont syphon with my mouth my ecosystem will be off-balance

 

[morgank]

I siphon my skimmer cup when I don't feel like twisting it off :-/

 

[Kungpaoshizi]

There's tons of life in our tanks, and a lot of it just wants to kill us.

 

[Rick.45cal]

You know if you fill the large gravel cleaning attachment with tank water, and then raise it above the water level (like a full glass of water) it will automatically start the siphon for you. Then you plug the end once it starts and stick the gravel cleaning end back in the water and start siphoning.
Seriously it is really that easy! No mouthfuls of water EVER!

(Drinking saltwater makes you crazy)

Those bulb things restrict the flow.

 

[saltyfilmfolks]

(Drinking saltwater makes you crazy)

And?

Maxi jet, hose. 5 min WC.

 

[Shawn.B]

I definitely won't be changing my habits. I'll be doing my water change tonight creating a siphon with my mouth lol.

I read this then went and sucked a siphon... living dangerous YOLO

 

[Rick.45cal]

And?

Maxi jet, hose. 5 min WC.

I just let my DOS change water about every 13 mins

 

[elfda]

Nothing that my ever-present whiskey on the rocks can't sanitize

I like the cut of your jib!

 

[elfda]

I siphon my skimmer cup when I don't feel like twisting it off :-/

Eeeeeehehehehewww

 

[Daniel@R2R]

If we dont risk out lives during a water change we arent reefing....

And base jumpers thought their hobby was dangerous? Pfffft

^^Best Post of the Thread award right here!^^

He aspirated some of the solution, bacterial infections are quite common with aspiration.
The danger is definitely something to take notice of.
Will I still siphon using that method, yup as I have been doing so for over 30 years, and yes periodically I am not paying attention and get some solution in my mouth. I am more concerned about the toxins released by zoanthids and palys that I have been manipulating when cleaning a system.

It's no riskier than swimming.

+1 to @Tahoe61 and @Lionfish Lair. Not to downplay what happened here, but siphon by mouth is not REALLY all that dangerous (unless you inhale the water...but that's usually bad anyway...)

 

[120reefkeeper]

If you don't get a glurp of water every once in a while it's just not the same!