Cleaning Equipment

[M4R13Y]

How do you clean siphon pipes, barrels and other fish tank equipment?

I have had trouble with mould in my siphon pipe because I can never get it to dry inside.
I also want to know how to clean things like buckets and barrels so they are safe.

I use boiling water to clean barrels and buckets but I don't know if that Is enough I know it will kill germs but what about any chemicals that might have been used in the manufacturing process.???


Any ideas/help will be appreciated.

Thanks M4R13Y

 

[Aquascaper]

Regular cleaning:
Toothbrush, tank water & scouring pad

Deep cleaning:
Toothbrush, scouring pad, vinegar, bleach and excessive rinsing

As for plastic buckets, etc. they are inert and will not do anything unless you put something in them to change the chemical composition of the plastic (acids, etc.) or something that leaves a residue that isn't cleaned off.

 

[M4R13Y]

Could you go into detail on the vinegar and bleach part please

Wouldn't bleach kill fish and vinegar raise ph

 

[Aquascaper]

Deep cleaning:
Toothbrush, scouring pad, vinegar, bleach and excessive rinsing

Vinegar is a mild acid and will remove any hard deposits such as limescale if the equipment is left submerged in it
Bleach will simply kill any bacteria

Excessive rinsing means removing all traces of vinegar/bleach before re-using the equipment by placing in a bucket with a hose and leaving it for a while (or if it's small items placing them in a toilet cistern for a few days)

 

[M4R13Y]

Deep cleaning:
Toothbrush, scouring pad, vinegar, bleach and excessive rinsing

Vinegar is a mild acid and will remove any hard deposits such as limescale if the equipment is left submerged in it
Bleach will simply kill any bacteria

Excessive rinsing means removing all traces of vinegar/bleach before re-using the equipment by placing in a bucket with a hose and leaving it for a while (or if it's small items placing them in a toilet cistern for a few days)

Wouldn't the flush cistern be dirty

 

[Aquascaper]

The toilet cistern is where tap water is stored ready to be flushed into the pan not where you relieve yourself

It's a box full of fresh tap water that gets emptied everytime someone uses it and then gets filled up with more fresh tap water afterwards.....in other words it's the same as you filling a bucket, emptying it then filling it again but it's all done for you automatically

 

[M4R13Y]

What about if cleaners have been put in there

 

[Aquascaper]

Don't know of many people who put cleaning chemicals into their cistern, usually they are put into the pan but if they have.....don't use it.....common sense

 

[M4R13Y]

Don't know of many people who put cleaning chemicals into their cistern, usually they are put into the pan but if they have.....don't use it.....common sense

You put these blue blocks in there to keep the pipes and flushing mechanics clean

 

[Aquascaper]

Then don't use it.....common sense

 

[Mr Spoon]

The toilet cistern is where tap water is stored ready to be flushed into the pan not where you relieve yourself

Oh man! Have I been using toilets wrong for years or what!

 

[M4R13Y]

hahahahaha lol

 

[elmo666]

The easy answer for the inside of your syphon pipe is to by an off the shelf flexi nylon brush from your lfs, or as I do use a length of copper wire and a suitably sized peice of nylon pan scourer, twisting the wire around it. I also use this for periodically cleaning the pipes on my external. As for buckets/barrels, never had a problem, I just rinse them clean after use. Personally wouldn't take a chance with bleach.