How Would You Clean Out This Thank?

[Ilya]

I bought a new tank just now. And I want it to be clean from everything. I heard that bleach was recommended. The person said that they haven't used the tank for months. And that they left a little water left to keep the rocks wet... apparently the beneficial bacteria can last that long. But I still want to rinse the gravel clean from everything!

Oh and can I reuse this Top Fin 40 Wet dry filter unit?

 

[Pimp]

I would think the bac. would die since there is no food source. And to clean you bleach and rinse and repat a lot

 

[Ilya]

I was thinking more of rinse, dry on grass. Rinse, bleach, rinse, dry on grass. Then a final rinse, then dry on concrete floor of garage. And I'm going to let it dry upside down .

Edit: I don't need grass, I have a deck .

 

[Pimp]

whatever works.. just make surch there are no crack after also

 

[Puffdaddy]

The "good" bacteria is 100% dead. The bacteria will start to die off if left for more than 24hrs with no food souce (ammonia). You can use bleach just rinse and rinse and rinse, then rinse some more, better safe than sorry.

 

[Ilya]

What about the filter?

 

[marcan]

You can reuse the filter. Do the same thing, rinse and bleach.

Buy some new media and you'll be ready to cycle the tank !

Good luck

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Vinegar is good for the hard water stains.

 

[Ilya]

So which is better, Vinegar, Bleach, or Rubbing Alcohol?

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Vinegar to remove the hard water stains...diluted bleach to sanitize if you want.

 

[dthoffsett]

You can also make a paste with baking soda and water, it's a mild abrasive, enough to get the gunk off, but not scratch the glass.

 

[Ilya]

Alright. Cleaned it for the most part. Scrubbed the sides with water/bleach. It's pure bleach too, only one ingredient. I'm leaving the filter submerged in the water/bleach overnight. I hope it's okay to leave bleach in the tank for one night. I did scrub some of the old bacteria with vinegar and stuff. Seemed to get a lot off.

Pictures in my journal. I will post the link once it's ready.

 

[the biffster]

all you need is salt and warm water and some bicarb and filter wool to clean the glass
wash and rinse a few times and it should be OK i have tendensy to believe that it doesn't matter how many
times you rinse you still wont get rid of the bleach


good luck biff

 

[Ilya]

It won't seep into the water proof sealant would it? That's my main concern. Would the water distiller clean the bleach too?

 

[Tolak]

all you need is salt and warm water and some bicarb and filter wool to clean the glass
wash and rinse a few times and it should be OK i have tendensy to believe that it doesn't matter how many
times you rinse you still wont get rid of the bleach


good luck biff

http/www.fishforums.net/index.php?showtopic=119809&hl=

I, along with many others have been using bleach to clean aquatics equipment for years without a problem. Hose it out after using bleach, let it dry, then double up on dechlorinator when you fill it.