Secondhand equipment

[shiftingsands]

HI
The tank and equipment I'm getting is a second hand job lot and I'd like advice please on how to clean it all so its safe for my new fish. Is there anything that I really should buy new or is it ok to use second hand stuff like filters and heaters if they appear to be working properly?


What a time to get keen on fish, when we have a dry well and no running water!!!
3 weeks to go before we get our bore hole drilled and our own water supply.

 

[glolite]

Just hot water and plenty of 'elbow grease'. Disinfectants and the like are not recommended anymore (in the UK anyway). I use good old supermarket pot scourers for tough algae problems, always rinsing them well under running tapwater first. The little cheapy green ones are good and don't seem to scratch the glass. If you're worried though, the lfs sell pucker tank scrubbing pads.
I'd probably buy new filter sponges etc and of course, don't clean the heater with very hot/cold water.

 

[Tolak]

Most all of my tanks, and many of my filters were bought used. Disinfecting with a bleach/water mixture gets rid of any nasties, vinegar is usually all that is needed to remove any lime buildup. Rinse really good after using either, I like to use the hose outdoors, weather permitting.

For really horrible, filthy, encrusted tanks, you can't beat Sno-Bowl toilet cleaner. Hydrochloric acid eats through most any build up, only do this with glass tanks, and be careful near the seams, it will start to take off silicone. Wear heavy rubber gloves, it takes off skin also. This is an outdoors cleaning thing, lots of fumes, rinse for a long time with a hose.

Tolak

 

[shiftingsands]

Thanks

 

[RabidChild]

Watch the scurbby pads you use. Some will actually say "not safe for aquariums" on them. They have stuff in them that help to kill bacteria and will do so in your tank which is not a good thing.