Mold In My Gravel Vac

[guppy fan]

I just picked up my gravel vacuum and noticed that there is a bit of mold in the inside. It is a very dark green, possibly black, color. Other than that it looks just like the mold that you would see on bread. Anyone know how to safely get rid of it? I'm not to worried about my fish because he hasn't been exposed to it yet, but I would like to change his water today. To prevent this from happening again, does anyone have any ideas of how to keep the inside of a gravel vac more dry?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi guppy fan

If it's short enough to fit in the sink, try soaking it in water with clorox in it. In the future, be sure to let it dry out before putting it away. You could hang it over the shower curtain rod for a while. This will usually prevent this problem.

 

[oliesminis]

leave it near a radiator or in your airing cupboard (boiler room to dry)

 

[guppy fan]

Thanks for the quick replies ! The clorox won't have any effect on my fish will it? I'll rinse the syphon really well. What's a boiler room?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi guppy fan

The active ingredient in Clorox is the chlorine, the chemical they put in the water supply to kill bacteria. You should not have a problem as long as you rinse it out. I use it to sterilize nets and other items in my tanks. If you're in doubt, add a little of your declorinator to your final rinse water.

 

[BenPursglove]

Thanks for the quick replies ! The clorox won't have any effect on my fish will it? I'll rinse the syphon really well. What's a boiler room?

A boiler room is a room where people with big boilers keep their boilers I have never had the need to dry my siphon after use but any mild heat source will do the job should you feel the need. (over a radiator, in the "airing cupboard", next to the oven, etc)

The mould should have no ill affect on the fish (just wipe it off) but for safety am guessing that "Clorox" is chlorine based bleach and so after bleaching the mould a tank declorinator would get rid of the chlorine from this bleach am guessing.