How Do I Steralise A Tank?

[Jozlyn]

I found a tank at my Mum's place that she was using as a mini hot house. How do I steralise it so that it is safe for my fish?

 

[Bronya]

Clean it out using warm soapy water, then rinse. To sterilise it, you can use baby bottle sterilising fluid or Milton fluid. There are also sterilising tablets you can buy, just ask your local fish / pet shop manager.

 

[NEONCORY]

Personally, I would not use any kind of soap since any left in the tank is deadly for fish. Depends on how dirty it is, I would use diluted bleach and wipe the tank. Pay extra attention to the silicon since it may soaked up something not good for fish like fertrizer. If it is extra dirty or used for long time for other use, you could leave diluted bleach water in it for a while. If it become smell bleachy, you can always splash or wipe with little vinegar which should nueturaize the bleach. Or you can wash with extra de-cholorined(water conditioner) water. And I would wash with old water from the other tank if you have one and when you do the water change. And probably better if you take your time to air dry the tank. That should make any tank smell like other tank and should be ready for new fish home.
And it is also always good idea to check the leak before you put the fish when you aquire the used tank. I usually fill it up over the newspaper for over night or 1 day. Just place the tank somewhere leveled and ok to get wet(hopefully not). Like back yard, garage, balcony or bath tub. If the newspaper under the tank is wet, you know it is leaking. So you either need to get another tank or look up the DIY thread and fix it. Good luck.

 

[Tolak]

Bleach & water, avoid soap. If bleach makes you nervous check this out; http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=119809&hl=

 

[crazie.eddie]

I agree about avoiding soaps. Most soaps may stick to surfaces and will be hard to remove, unless you scrub it off. With bleach, it can easily be neutralized with dechlorinator. I often don't even pay to how much bleach I use and just normally pour it in, until I think there's enough. I just make sure I soak everything with dechlorinator. I've never lost any fish, shrimp, etc. with this method.

 

[ennbee]

I just use warm salty water then rinse off with tapwater.

 

[The-Wolf]

I'd fill it with hot water (as hot as your hands can stand)
then add 20ml of acriflavin and leave it for 24 hours.
empty it and let it air dry.

should then be safe to use

 

[smurfyy_2k3]

i used a steam clean on an old one i had, first bleach and water and rinsed out with loads and oads and loads of water though