Cursed Tank

[OrkyBetta]

Ok, so I think I might have found a way for each of my 2 Bettas to have a nice 10 gallon home. I can split this 20 gallon with an opaque divider. My mother has this old 20 gallon that she recovered from the basement. It has no hood or anything, it is simply a tank and stand. My mom claims it is cursed, everything she has ever had in there died, even a betta. Gone in days. So, I told her there might have been something wrong with the water. She said it always tested fine, and she did almost everything right. She cycled it with fish (this was before anyone knew about fishless cycling) did frequent water changes, never overfed, and understocked with compatible community fish. Is there anything I can do to make this tank safe? I have a feeling there is something like a virus or bacteria living in this tank. If I do 'uncurse' it, could bettas live in it with no heater or filter, if I kept up frequent water changes?

 

[BettaMomma]

this is a glass tank?
rectangular?

 

[OrkyBetta]

yes, this is a glass, rectangular tank. Common sense told me to definitely get a heater and filter for this tank, if I can properly clean it out. It's been in my mom's basement for quite some time now. But my question is, how do I clean it? Also, COULD it hold the bettas without the heater and filter? The last question is just to satisfy my curiosity.

 

[Sorrell]

Heater depends on what your room sits at where they'll be, same thing as with any other size tank. Filter, I would, that's a big tank for huge water changes, but then again I do those on my fry tanks..you need to decide how often and how much you want to change.

Cleaning it-I'd do a bleach solution 1:20 and rinse rinse rinse untill you don't think there could be even a speck of bleach left and then rinse it some more. I'd fill it with water and make sure it still holds before you make big plans too. I have a couple 10's that are older then me and (knock on wood) they're fine, but you never know and you wouldn't want to spring a leak with fish in there

 

[Gazoo]

If the tank was previously used you should try this on the original owner to remove the curse.

 

[BETTA GOD GRANT ME SERENITY]

BURN IT ,
SEND IT BACK TO HELL.

 

[RandomWiktor]

I have a tank that every fish I've tried in it has died too. I sterilized the hell out of it with salt and vineager, and changed the entire filter (not just cartrige), all of the gravel, and the plants every time. Fish still died in it. It is now home to one snail who is doing fine so far, knock on wood. I will never put a fish in it again.

Anyways, unless you get a hood with a strong light that'll keep the temp between 74-82, I would suggest just buying a heater. Ditto for the filter; it will be a PAIN to do huge water changes on that tank. It might cost you about 50 bucks in the end, but considering the tank was free, that's not bad at all.

 

[WILDER]

Clean it well with hot water and salt, even let it stand aday with salt water in it, then leave to dry out for a few days.