Cleaning Help.

[Luketendo]

Ok, so I bought a new Hagen Elite 35L tank about 3 or so weeks ago. I have been having loads of problems with cycling and Underwurlde has diagnosed a needed clean strip down of the tank and a start over. But I do not know how to clean my heater, tank etc. Underwurlde thinks that something is killing my bacteria therefore stalling the cycle.

So does anyone know how I should go about cleaning the gravel, tank and all? I don't need to clean the filter because I'm scrapping the crappy stingray for my old and trusty fluval 2 Plus.

 

[SJ2K]

You can boil the substrate in fresh water to kill bacteria and just give everything else a good scrub with hot water and a sponge

 

[Luketendo]

You can boil the substrate in fresh water to kill bacteria and just give everything else a good scrub with hot water and a sponge

Is it safe to boil gravel?

 

[SJ2K]

I believe so Dont hold me to it but I couldnt see why not! Make sure it cools down before adding it to your tank though

 

[Luketendo]

I believe so Dont hold me to it but I couldnt see why not! Make sure it cools down before adding it to your tank though

Yeah I'll wait for more people to confirm it's safe, because with lava rock there's lots of air pockets and it can explode when boiled, so the gravel would be the same wouldn't it?

 

[SJ2K]

Well ive heard of it being used to kill off bacteria, also I wouldnt see why regular gravel would have air pockets in it of course lava rock is an exception because of the way its formed, trapped air is inevitable. By all means, wait for reasurance/corrections

 

[Luketendo]

Well ive heard of it being used to kill off bacteria, also I wouldnt see why regular gravel would have air pockets in it of course lava rock is an exception because of the way its formed, trapped air is inevitable. By all means, wait for reasurance/corrections

Ok, thanks for help .

 

[jim566]

if you can boil pebbles before putting them in to the tank i cant see gravel being any different, just remember to let them cool for a good time as they will retain heat

 

[Luketendo]

if you can boil pebbles before putting them in to the tank i cant see gravel being any different, just remember to let them cool for a good time as they will retain heat

I might just leave the gravel in there while I sterilize the tank.

 

[dwarfgourami]

I have boiled gravel before without any adverse effects.

 

[Luketendo]

I have boiled gravel before without any adverse effects.

Ok thanks.

 

[MHunt]

It's odd that something is stopping the filter cycling, it wouldn't have been the tank as a tank that won't cycle won't support the fish. Are you sure it isn't just the little stingray not having enough filter media for the bacteria to colonise.

What other things do you have in the setup? Type of gravel, other decor, plants, with fish or not yet.

Just looked in your profile and why bother doing a new cycle when you have another tank that's running with a mature filter? Just swap some of your mature media into the new filter just before you add the fish, and you (near enough) have a cycled tank. Just monitor it for a week or so with water tests every other day and do a water change if you get any ammonia spikes, but the bacteria on mature media multiplies rapidly so chances of a mini cycle are slim.

 

[Luketendo]

It's odd that something is stopping the filter cycling, it wouldn't have been the tank as a tank that won't cycle won't support the fish. Are you sure it isn't just the little stingray not having enough filter media for the bacteria to colonise.

What other things do you have in the setup? Type of gravel, other decor, plants, with fish or not yet.

Just looked in your profile and why bother doing a new cycle when you have another tank that's running with a mature filter? Just swap some of your mature media into the new filter just before you add the fish, and you (near enough) have a cycled tank. Just monitor it for a week or so with water tests every other day and do a water change if you get any ammonia spikes, but the bacteria on mature media multiplies rapidly so chances of a mini cycle are slim.

I have already put mature media in a guess what, it didn't do anything.