Help with disinfecting an Infected tank

[Jakeonee]

Hello, I am new to fish keeping and recently started my first tank. Due to not quarantining my new fish and plants I seem to have been plagued with parasites (Anchor worms, camallanus worms, gill flukes and as a result mild fin rot). I'm coming to the end of the treatment and many of the fish are starting to look better apart from the occasional flicking (throughout the treatment I have lost 3 guppies). Basically I am looking for advice on how to disinfect the tank as I want to pull it all apart to make sure everything is gone for good from the substrate ect. Will I have to also disinfect the filter therefore destroying the biological filtration and requiring re-cycling? Also how would I remove potential parasites from my live plants?

My parameters read 0ppm on ammonia, nitrates and nitrites.

My stocking is 4 mollies, 4 guppies, 5 amano shrimp and a Bn pleco in a 130L planted tank.

Many thanks

 

[Salty&Onion]

Did you cycle your tank at all? Do you have live plants in the tank? 0ppm nitrates is usually indicating that your tank is not cycled. I'll leave everything else to other members because I don't know anything here

 

[Jakeonee]

Yes, it was fully cycled for around a month before adding any fish. All the plants I have are live plants so may be the reason for the low nitrate levels I believe.

 

[Salty&Onion]

Yeah, if you have many plants in the tank then 0 nitrates is no problem.

 

[Colin_T]

If you have treated the tank and killed all the harmful parasites, there is no reason to take the tank apart and clean everything individually. I would simply wait until you have finished treatment and then wipe the inside of the glass down and clean the filter. Then do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week. That will remove any chemicals and rotting matter in the tank. Then do a 75% water change and gravel clean once a week.

 

[Jakeonee]

If you have treated the tank and killed all the harmful parasites, there is no reason to take the tank apart and clean everything individually. I would simply wait until you have finished treatment and then wipe the inside of the glass down and clean the filter. Then do a 75% water change and gravel clean the substrate every day for a week. That will remove any chemicals and rotting matter in the tank. Then do a 75% water change and gravel clean once a week.

Okay, will give this a try. I just really wanted to make sure that they were gone. Though I guess causing more unnecessary stress is never a good idea! Many thanks for the help

 

[seangee]

I haven't had to deal with most of those but I do know camallanus worms need the second treatment after 2 weeks. It is important that you do this. If you have any of the meds left do another dose after a further 2 weeks.

 

[Lajos_Detari]

How long did you treat your tank?
Some parasites like gill flukes can survive over a month.

My method of sterilizing will be throwing away everything except the tank...LOL

I will use bleach(Sodium Hypochlorite) to clean the tank and let it dry for a few days without water.
But if you use bleach, you have to rinse it fast as bleach is corrosive and can damage the
silicone. You can also use anti-chlorine to neutralize the bleach(if I am not wrong) and rinse it many times.
I will even change my filters unless I can be sure that there is no parasites eggs/cysts that are still around in the filter especially the filter medias.
Take note that the parasites eggs/cysts cannot be destroyed by most medications.

Bleach can destroy the eggs though I am not sure whether its 100%.
I was reading a research paper that the parasites eggs were not 100% destroyed after they used bleach.

Take note that you also have to sterilize all your siphon, nets, tools that you used for the infected tank with bleach.