Aquarium Cleaning

[gh74]

I bought a juwel rio 240 lastnight and the girl use to have salt water fish in it,so everything need a good cleaning before i put tropical's in it so what all should i use to clean it with filter,uv sterilization system skimmer head etc etc,its just am not really sure what all to do and use.
 
Thanks

 

[sawickib]

I would use a mixture of vinegar and water and leave it over night and get a razor blade to scrape off all the saltwater bits and give it a good scrub and then wash it all put with plain water.

 

[gh74]

Cheers mate have everything scrubbed but i will go over the tank again with the vinegar and water,does anyone in here know about a skimmer,uv sterilizer,just there is no sponges etc in the filter this set up is what the girl was using that i got the tank from to run her salt water fish.

 

[Lillefishy]

Use white vinegar not the stuff you put on your chips & soak overnight, it'll still need a good scrape especially if it's coralline algae & not just salt residue.
You won't need the skimmer on a freshwater tank nor imo the steriliser

 

[fluttermoth]

Cheers mate have everything scrubbed but i will go over the tank again with the vinegar and water,does anyone in here know about a skimmer,uv sterilizer,

You won't need either of those for a freshwater set up.
 

just there is no sponges etc in the filter this set up is what the girl was using that i got the tank from to run her salt water fish.

No, there won't be; saltys don't 'do' filtration like we do! You will need to buy sponges and/or ceramic media, and possibly filter floss, depending on what filter it is.

 

[sawickib]

O yea sorry shoulda clarified on that, use white vinegar
Saltwater if I remember correctly is chemically filtered through live rock and mechanically by the filter but not with sponges..

 

[gh74]

 

Cheers mate have everything scrubbed but i will go over the tank again with the vinegar and water,does anyone in here know about a skimmer,uv sterilizer,

You won't need either of those for a freshwater set up.
 

just there is no sponges etc in the filter this set up is what the girl was using that i got the tank from to run her salt water fish.

No, there won't be; saltys don't 'do' filtration like we do! You will need to buy sponges and/or ceramic media, and possibly filter floss, depending on what filter it is.
 


So Can i not use the uv sterilizer and skimmer or what ever it is? or do i need to buy sponges,filter floss etc? am stumped the girl asked me what i would be keeping i told her tropical and she described it all to me that i could use the sterilizer,skimmer thingy,sorry all the questions etc this is totally new to me

 

[sawickib]

I'm think you can use them, but you will need the sponges, floss, and ceramic stones, to aid in the FW bacterial colony growing.

 

[gh74]

I'm think you can use them, but you will need the sponges, floss, and ceramic stones, to aid in the FW bacterial colony growing.

Can you explain all that to me,ceramic stones?were  will i be putting them whats the bacterial colony growing etc,am really dumb when i comes to all this....sorry

 

[sawickib]

Idk how to describe the stones lol this is the best I could find http/www.amazon.com/Oxygen-Releases-Ceramic-Bio-Sponge-Filter/dp/B00976LTA8 in there is little white and brown ceramic stones that give good bacteria places to grow.

You can learn about cycling your tank and bacteria here >>> http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?/topic/421488-cycling-your-new-fresh-water-tank-read-this-first/

It's ok you come here to learn!!! Haha

 

[gh74]

LOL it was never like all this when i kept fish 25 years ago,need to see if i can build a new hood for the rio 240 etc do you know of any good projects etc

 

[sawickib]

Well 25 years was a big gap in fish keeping care and research haha

Here's some links that may help

http/m.youtube.com/watch?v=hI9l8y5o2Zk

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_canopy2.php

http/www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?265510-DIY-Aquarium-lids-(not-light-hoods)

http/www.garf.org/calculators/BuildLowProfileCanopy.asp

http/timbob.com/diy-aquarium-canopy-build/

http/www.instructables.com/id/Another-aquarium-LED-hood-light-Easier-cheaper/

 

[gh74]

Well 25 years was a big gap in fish keeping care and research haha

Here's some links that may help

http/m.youtube.com/watch?v=hI9l8y5o2Zk

http/www.cichlid-forum.com/articles/diy_canopy2.php

http/www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?265510-DIY-Aquarium-lids-(not-light-hoods)

http/www.garf.org/calculators/BuildLowProfileCanopy.asp

http/timbob.com/diy-aquarium-canopy-build/

http/www.instructables.com/id/Another-aquarium-LED-hood-light-Easier-cheaper/

Googman yourself for them links,i had noticed the first link lastnight,then had watched the guy on youtube( hes the king of diy aquariums ) I might try the one he made would be easier than what i was trying to do lol