old Gravel / New Gravel

[leongreenway]

Hi,

I have recently been given a 81 Litre tank that contains the original gravel.
it has been left sitting with water in it for several months and doest smell great.

Is it worth cleaning the existing gravel (If so which is the best method) or buying new (Does this need to be prepared in anyway)

Many Thanks

Leon

 

[Candyco]

My personal opinion is get new gravel At least you know there hasn't been any disease near it.
I had the same issue not so long ago when a tank was given to me with wet stones that had been festering for a few months! It stank. Gravel doesn't cost all that much or you could on the other hand get some sand instead!

 

[cometcattle]

My personal opinion is get new gravel At least you know there hasn't been any disease near it.
I had the same issue not so long ago when a tank was given to me with wet stones that had been festering for a few months! It stank. Gravel doesn't cost all that much or you could on the other hand get some sand instead!

I agree. I'd dispose of the gravel, and clean the tank.

Go for sand!

 

[leongreenway]

Thanks

 

[nc_nutcase]

It's really not that hard to thoroughly clean gravel. Ask yourself which you'd rather do, spend an hour and a half cleaning gravel or spend the money for new?

If you chose to clean it, most people simply rinse it under hot water in a bath tub or rinse it a lot in cold water with a standard outside water hose. It sounds to me like you may want to wash it a little better than this though. Rinse it as described, then boil it in a big ol pot. If you don’t have one that big then rinse it and then pour boiling water over it and let it soak in it.

 

[leongreenway]

Thanks thats good advice.

 

[purple_drazi]

Whatever you do, don't rinse it in bleach like I did! doh!!!


here I was thinking that the bleach would kill off any nasties in the gravel... and then I found out that the gravel will absorb the bleach and then release it back into the tank water...killing everything in sight.

but you already knew that I bet.