Chaeto Fumes?

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Yesterday I removed quite a bit of chaeto from my fuge. I thew it into my utility sink to drain as I always do prior to bagging it. After finishing the "harvest" I got a plastic bag to throw the chaeto in. As I started to place the chaeto in the bag, my eyes started to burn intensely. This has never happened to me before.

Has anyone else experienced this?

 

[JustDavidP]

Sure it was chaeto and not cannabis?

 

[JustDavidP]

Kidding....I've worked with macro before and had a strong ammonia smell/sensation.

Dave

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Eyes

It couldn't be pot...'cause it supposed to be good for the eyes, right? Helps glaucoma patients doesn't it?

Sure it was chaeto and not cannabis?

 

[Moe_K]

Yesterday I removed quite a bit of chaeto from my fuge. I thew it into my utility sink to drain as I always do prior to bagging it. After finishing the "harvest" I got a plastic bag to throw the chaeto in. As I started to place the chaeto in the bag, my eyes started to burn intensely. This has never happened to me before.

Has anyone else experienced this?

Nope, has not happened to me, but then again I've not had to bag a big ol' batch of chaeto before.
Usually, I just grab a bunch, carry it to the back door, and throw it in the compost pile.

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Fast

Gee Dave....you type fast...also my friggin wireless connection to my router fades in and out...time to look for a new router I think.

Kidding....I've worked with macro before and had a strong ammonia smell/sensation.

Dave

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Compost

Watch out Moe, between the bright lights and all the green plant matter in your compost pile, neighbors could get the wrong idea!!! (kidding around)

Seriously though it burned my eyes so bad that I had to go outside and get some fresh air. Really weird...but the ammonia thing Dave mentioned makes sense. I guess I shouldn't wait 3 months in between harvests and instead do a little each week...cause if there IS ammonia it means my chaeto is rotting in the fuge!

Nope, has not happened to me, but then again I've not had to bag a big ol' batch of chaeto before.
Usually, I just grab a bunch, carry it to the back door, and throw it in the compost pile.

 

[JustDavidP]

MOE.. I need some chaeto.. throw it further.. you may hit my tank

D

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Man, I feel like I am communicating from the space shuttle with this stupid time delay.....or maybe the fumes are still at work?

 

[smcnally]

It could definitely be ammonia from things dying off while in the sink. If there was any bleach residue in the sink and ammonia from the chaeto came in contact with it, it could make even more potent fumes that would absolutely bother your eyes.

 

[stingythingy45]

That's what I was thinking.
Something could have been in the trap of the sink.
A cleaning chemical that was last poured into there reacting with the ammonia or something.I know my sink downstairs is smelling like low tide.
Definitely time to get some baking soda down it.lol

 

[Chuck Spyropulos]

Sink

The sink is in my fishroom and there has never been anything in it that is hazardous to marine life, eg cleaning chemicals, etc. The chaeto was in the sink for only a few minutes draining while I harvested the algae and got a trash bag to throw it in.

Seems improbable that the chaeto reacted with anything in the drain or sink. But there could have been some liquid from my skimmer in the drain which could have reacted with the drainage from the chaeto....I am not a chemist so I'm not sure what that reaction would be though.

I think the fumes were directly from the chaeto....which scares me since it had just been removed from my fuge minutes earlier. I really let the fuge go for a long time which was a mistake. Now I harvest chaeto every week or so a little at a time.

That's what I was thinking.
Something could have been in the trap of the sink.
A cleaning chemical that was last poured into there reacting with the ammonia or something.I know my sink downstairs is smelling like low tide.
Definitely time to get some baking soda down it.lol