Newborns and Aquariums...
- Thread starter Reefguide
- Start date
1st of all congratulations!!!!
Happy 0th birthday Victoria AManda! (very pretty name)
There is something you MUST be aware of - it is of extreme importance to your baby's health -
the * M O S T * important thing to remember with newborns and reef tanks is to place the baby where she can see the tank clearly. You have the most expensive and best mobile in the world.
Make sure you have lots of schools of small fish in your tank so she can watch the motion, the colors, the patterns, and have her brain grow.
That's it.
Happy 0th birthday Victoria AManda! (very pretty name)
There is something you MUST be aware of - it is of extreme importance to your baby's health -
the * M O S T * important thing to remember with newborns and reef tanks is to place the baby where she can see the tank clearly. You have the most expensive and best mobile in the world.
Make sure you have lots of schools of small fish in your tank so she can watch the motion, the colors, the patterns, and have her brain grow.
That's it.
Hehehhe ! Thanks !! Yeah, My brothers kids 3 and 10 months old looooove my Reef ! They are memorized by it. You may have read of the clowns I'm rearing on other posts... I want to put a 10g "clown tank in her roof when she's a little older But seriously, nothing I should be aware of? Thanks again !
But seriously, nothing I should be aware of? Thanks again !BTW, if you need to setup a new tank, you have a perfect ammonia source to get the cycle going. Just sqeeze over the water is all you have to do. Good for the environment, good for your wallet, and your kids gets to participate setting up the new tank!
Re-use of the diaper is not recommended.
Re-use of the diaper is not recommended.
BTW, get prepared to be a punchbag. Due to the significant lack of sleeps, Mother during the next 8 weeks are notorious for grouchiness, temper swing, and sudden burst of anger. Fondling of her genitals usually does not do the trick during these couple weeks.
Reefguide, you lucky man! A newborn baby too! I assumed this thread was about your clowns...
On a serious note, I'm sure you've heard of the toxicity of zoanthids. A little child might decide to put one in her mouth, which could be fatal. You shouldn't have to worry about that for a while though. Other than that, I'd keep all the chemicals like Kalk, buffer, etc. out of harm's way. If you're washing your hands you should be fine.
On a serious note, I'm sure you've heard of the toxicity of zoanthids. A little child might decide to put one in her mouth, which could be fatal. You shouldn't have to worry about that for a while though. Other than that, I'd keep all the chemicals like Kalk, buffer, etc. out of harm's way. If you're washing your hands you should be fine.
Congrats, Reefguide!
In my case, if a baby where to arrive on the scene I would have a lot of work to do to make all the cables and AC cords safe. You probably have already taken care of that in your initial baby-proofing sweeps.
By the way, get some rest, you've got bags under your eyes! 8)
In my case, if a baby where to arrive on the scene I would have a lot of work to do to make all the cables and AC cords safe. You probably have already taken care of that in your initial baby-proofing sweeps.
By the way, get some rest, you've got bags under your eyes! 8)
A couple obvious things to think about:
* Always wash your hands well with antibacterial soap and make sure to get under your fingernails. With my son, it always seemed like I was putting my finger in his mouth for some reason or another. Many of the chemicals we use are toxic (kalk for one) and also toxins that corals emit into the water column can get onto your hands when working in the tank. IIRC, there was a gentleman recently that had his dog die because it ingested a zoanthid. Do a search to find this thread as it was pretty heart-breaking. To play things safe, I've been using unpowdered latex gloves whenever I work around my tank. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'd rather play it safe than sorry.
* make sure all of your electrical cords, outlets, ballasts, etc are well out of reach. They get mobile *real* quick and can get into things before you know it. This is the reason why I'm moving all my tanks into the basement so that he won't get into them.
* Use child-proof locks on any cabinets where you store chemicals and also on your cabinet doors. Last thing you want them doing is playing in the sump or with your kalkwasser powder.
* Depending on the size of your tank, you may want to put up some sort of barrier between your child and the tank. It's a very remote possibility, but when your baby becomes mobile, he may try to get into the tank. Possible scenarios: drop a penny in the tank (copper poisoning!), pull the tank off it's stand (depends how big the tank is), could pound on the glass and crack the tank with his new-found hammer or pot lid, could start dropping Cheerios in the tank because "the fish are hungry", etc.
That's about all I can think of right now.
Shane
marked for archiving
* Always wash your hands well with antibacterial soap and make sure to get under your fingernails. With my son, it always seemed like I was putting my finger in his mouth for some reason or another. Many of the chemicals we use are toxic (kalk for one) and also toxins that corals emit into the water column can get onto your hands when working in the tank. IIRC, there was a gentleman recently that had his dog die because it ingested a zoanthid. Do a search to find this thread as it was pretty heart-breaking. To play things safe, I've been using unpowdered latex gloves whenever I work around my tank. Maybe I'm paranoid, but I'd rather play it safe than sorry.
* make sure all of your electrical cords, outlets, ballasts, etc are well out of reach. They get mobile *real* quick and can get into things before you know it. This is the reason why I'm moving all my tanks into the basement so that he won't get into them.
* Use child-proof locks on any cabinets where you store chemicals and also on your cabinet doors. Last thing you want them doing is playing in the sump or with your kalkwasser powder.
* Depending on the size of your tank, you may want to put up some sort of barrier between your child and the tank. It's a very remote possibility, but when your baby becomes mobile, he may try to get into the tank. Possible scenarios: drop a penny in the tank (copper poisoning!), pull the tank off it's stand (depends how big the tank is), could pound on the glass and crack the tank with his new-found hammer or pot lid, could start dropping Cheerios in the tank because "the fish are hungry", etc.
That's about all I can think of right now.
Shane
marked for archiving
hi.
Kalk is not toxic, but it is caustic enough to be dangerous. Anyway, I can only come up with the following. Some may only applies when your kid got older.
1, stray light from MH maybe too bright for the eyes, and they don't really know looking directly at the sun/light is harmful other than what inherent reflect of shutting their eye lids can help them.
2, they learn how to climb very early, esp. after walking. My older son climb right next to a tank on a chair (he was about 2yrs old back then). After watching it for a few seconds, he decided to put his hand into his diaper, and get some poo out (fresh and warm). Knowing that it is not what he suppose to do when I scream at him across the room, he washed his little hand in the tank (open-top). 8O
Kalk is not toxic, but it is caustic enough to be dangerous. Anyway, I can only come up with the following. Some may only applies when your kid got older.
1, stray light from MH maybe too bright for the eyes, and they don't really know looking directly at the sun/light is harmful other than what inherent reflect of shutting their eye lids can help them.
2, they learn how to climb very early, esp. after walking. My older son climb right next to a tank on a chair (he was about 2yrs old back then). After watching it for a few seconds, he decided to put his hand into his diaper, and get some poo out (fresh and warm). Knowing that it is not what he suppose to do when I scream at him across the room, he washed his little hand in the tank (open-top). 8O
Blessings to you. Nice name too! I raised my kids with a tank, great mobil. Come to think of it that was 24 years ago. Do you believe it I have had a salt water tank for all but 10 years of that. Teen years it was to hard to do both. When I came back after 10 year wow did things change. But now that my kids are grown they remember it well and know all the name of the fish and coral. It' a great learning tool. well blessings again.
Victoria
Victoria
Congratulations! Not too much to add to the safety concerns.
Children are drawn to tanks like a magnet! I keep all chemicals in the basement in a cabinet. Kind of a PITA, but safe. Stand doors have locks on them.
Once they became mobile, both my kids were always in the general vacinity of the tank. Placing them in a high-chair next to it almost always stopped any crying.
My daughter (2 yrs.) has her "blue step". A small step stool about 10 inches high. Will haul it from wherever it is in the house, and put it in front of the tank. Gets her high enough to see everything, but she can't reach the top. I can't believe how much time shae spends in front of it!
Congratulations daddy!
Be sure that when your daughter gets older and more mobile that she can't throw milk, food and stuff in there like my goober did.
Also maybe cabinet doors that automatically swing shut and lock. Prop them open when necessary. I forgot to completely close and check my doors once or twice. No ill effects but still...
Be sure that when your daughter gets older and more mobile that she can't throw milk, food and stuff in there like my goober did.
Also maybe cabinet doors that automatically swing shut and lock. Prop them open when necessary. I forgot to completely close and check my doors once or twice. No ill effects but still...
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