Second Hand Tank

[daiandgems]

Hi i have jus purchased a second hand tank and was wondering how to go about cleaning it what should i use clean water or water from my other tank any help would be gratful thanks

 

[roadmaster]

Hi i have jus purchased a second hand tank and was wondering how to go about cleaning it what should i use clean water or water from my other tank any help would be gratful thanks

Many folks use warm water and vinegar to remove hard water stains and or calcium deposits.
If disenfecting the aquarium was my aim, I would use bleach and water solution and rinse hell out of it when done. Then allow to dry completely (24 to 48 hours) before filling it for fish.
Vinegar and warm water works well for general cleaning and seems to work best if allowed to soak in the solution. A half gallon of vinegar to 25 gallons of water should produce good results. I would place the tank in bathtub and fill it half full with water and depending on tank size adjust how much vinegar to use. Rinse well when done.Hope this helps.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi i have jus purchased a second hand tank and was wondering how to go about cleaning it what should i use clean water or water from my other tank any help would be gratful thanks

pleases, please, don't soak your aquarium in a water vinegar mix. vinegar and silicon, dont like each other. well after the first cure, anyway.

for lime scale, try neat vinegar on a cloth, and lots of elbow grease. lime/lemon and pure acetic acid work too. just don't get it on the silicone.

if you just want to disinfect. a mild bleach solution will do fine. but just letting it dry, completely, will do the same for most.

 

[roadmaster]

Hi i have jus purchased a second hand tank and was wondering how to go about cleaning it what should i use clean water or water from my other tank any help would be gratful thanks

pleases, please, don't soak your aquarium in a water vinegar mix. vinegar and silicon, dont like each other. well after the first cure, anyway.

for lime scale, try neat vinegar on a cloth, and lots of elbow grease. lime/lemon and pure acetic acid work too. just don't get it on the silicone.

if you just want to disinfect. a mild bleach solution will do fine. but just letting it dry, completely, will do the same for most.
[/quote

Would agree that straight vinegar left to sit on silicone for a day or two MIGHT be a problem. Hence the half gallon of vinegar to twenty five gallons of water suggested. Have used vinegar for years to clean tanks as I suspect others have as well without incident. Is a VERY weak acid. Hell I've used limeaway and CLR as well on old saltwater tanks.
I would not suggest cleaning with the latter mentioned products but feel that vinegar ,diluted with water poses next to zero risk. Opinion's vary.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi i have jus purchased a second hand tank and was wondering how to go about cleaning it what should i use clean water or water from my other tank any help would be gratful thanks

pleases, please, don't soak your aquarium in a water vinegar mix. vinegar and silicon, dont like each other. well after the first cure, anyway.

for lime scale, try neat vinegar on a cloth, and lots of elbow grease. lime/lemon and pure acetic acid work too. just don't get it on the silicone.

if you just want to disinfect. a mild bleach solution will do fine. but just letting it dry, completely, will do the same for most.
[/quote

Would agree that straight vinegar left to sit on silicone for a day or two MIGHT be a problem. Hence the half gallon of vinegar to twenty five gallons of water suggested. Have used vinegar for years to clean tanks as I suspect others have as well without incident. Is a VERY weak acid. Hell I've used limeaway and CLR as well on old saltwater tanks.
I would not suggest cleaning with the latter mentioned products but feel that vinegar ,diluted with water poses next to zero risk. Opinion's vary.

well i wont get into an argument over it. but why use something that, actually, (even in small quantity's, especially in water) weakens silicone? even more so on an old tank.
simple enough, use vinegar cloth and hard work. floors full of water, cost more than time.

Be safe not sorry

 

[roadmaster]

Pffft!

 

[ellena]

I find a razor blade great to get the stubborn bits off