Best Ways To Clean A Second Hand Fish Tank?

[Ch4rlie]

Hello,
 
I have just bought a second hand tank off eBay (Fluval Edge 46 Litre) and this tank was used for 8 months by previous owner before he gave up, lost heart in the hobby apparently.
 
Now I have the tank at home and all looks good, no scratches and all appears to be working although not tested yet.
 
But really needs a decent clean.
 
Would like to know any suggestions on which is the best way to clean the tank, heater, and filter parts before starting anything else.
 
Have read people mention using diluted bleach, aquarium salts and just plain water.
But unsure which would be most effective.
 
Suggestions, ideas and tips would be great!
 

 

[fluttermoth]

Try hot salt water for starters; usually does the trick.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Aquarium salt or normal table salt?
 
Am certain both have different properties and assuming table salt is not the right stuff?

 

[Blondielovesfish]

Sorry, I have anything to contribute but I'm interested in reading the replies as I'm looking at buying a second hand tank soon too.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Sorry, I have anything to contribute but I'm interested in reading the replies as I'm looking at buying a second hand tank soon too.

 
lol, not a problem. Thats absolutely the whole point of this forum. 

 
I jump in other people's thread and pinch their advice and tips too. 

 
Lets hope I can get some good advice and tips about the best methods and cleaning treatments. 

 

[fm1978]

Hi ch4rlie!

Congrats on your new purchase!

For the sake of cleaning purposes, aquarium salt and table salt won't make a whole hill of beans of a difference.

Give it a good scrub with warm salty water and then rinse a few times and you'll be fine. Shouldn't take long with a 46, which is a bonus.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Fm - cheers for that input.

Yeah, 46 litres not the biggest but a nice addition. Just needs a darned good clean!
Already got plans for this tank!

 

[mike455555]

im not sure how much of a taboo this would be but i use harpic to get the lime scale off then rinse water (hosepipe) over it until most of its gone that does the trick for me 

 

[tmoney7]

Honestly i am using a tank that was a fish tank and then he put a rat in it (without the water of course ) and i just took normal bleach that you use to clean clothes and filled the tank up, scrubbed it down with some steel wool because there was lime scale on it and then rinsed it off really well until i couldn't smell the bleach anymore with my hose.  After that  i filled it up with water, added dechlor and got it running and its been fine the whole time!

 

[mike455555]

i know its not fish but at a bird and seal trust near me they use a weak 5% bleach sollution to whipe down everything and then rinse it off with water 

 

[Gizaroo2]

You can use white vinegar too. Works well at getting those hard water stains off.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Thanks for the responses guys.

Seems salt or a weak solution of bleach does the trick.

Thinking of using the weak bleach solution and rinsing really well by putting tank into the bath and using the shower head.
This tank, Fluval Edge looks a little awkward to clean since is not like a conventional tank where you have a large open area on top where you can access all areas of the tank, there's only a smallish open square area in which on the top to gain access tank with.

I'll find a way!

 

[Ch4rlie]

Just had a thought, would cleaning with lemons be a better solution? It's a natural antiseptic if you like, have used lemons before for cleaning glass. Will mean using quite a few lemons but not a problem if means a good way to clean a tank.

Will using lemon have any effects on anything like bacteria during cycle for example if any residue left behind? Obviously plan to rinse really well anyway.

Any thoughts on that?

 

[Dskize]

Just did this on a sump that had marine use ,

Power washer , vinegar solution , bleach solution ,rinse and repeat as necessary.

Oh and scouring pads

 

[Ch4rlie]

Methinks should have started a voting poll! Lol

So that's another one for vinegar. Thanks for that input.

Good point about scouring pads, will get a new packet of those since don't want to use any that's already been used.