Okay I recently had a big Ick problem with my fish. They all died. I want to clean the tank tonight but I am not sure what to do. Should I use just water? Or should I use bleach [I think I heard that somewhere]. I think I am going to just get all new gravel. Thanks! = ]
Tank Cleaning Problem-what To Use
- Thread starter Kat03
- Start date
scorphonic
Fishaholic
Bleach...I believe people here us a 19 water to 1 bleach solution...so a 1 in 20 Dilution of the bleach.
Empty out all water, wash all surfaces of tank with the bleach solution and then fully clean out. Leave to dry and if you want to wash it out again...feel free to do so. You can do the same with your gravel. Fill a basin with the bleach and allow the gravel to soak in it for a while...then you can take it out using a strainer and run it under the tap for a while to wash away all the bleach.
O and of course, wear gloves!!
I've a question though...how did your fish die of Ich...its uncommon for this to happen if you only treat them with medication!! Ich doesn't kill fish too easily so long as you take action and give them medication to rid the tank of Ich.
Just in case you didn't know about the medication part you may want to invest in some now because you will get Ich again in your tank...it generally hits every tank at some stage. I use a medication called "Protozin" and find that its brilliant. A large bottle will last you for years.
Empty out all water, wash all surfaces of tank with the bleach solution and then fully clean out. Leave to dry and if you want to wash it out again...feel free to do so. You can do the same with your gravel. Fill a basin with the bleach and allow the gravel to soak in it for a while...then you can take it out using a strainer and run it under the tap for a while to wash away all the bleach.
O and of course, wear gloves!!
I've a question though...how did your fish die of Ich...its uncommon for this to happen if you only treat them with medication!! Ich doesn't kill fish too easily so long as you take action and give them medication to rid the tank of Ich.
Just in case you didn't know about the medication part you may want to invest in some now because you will get Ich again in your tank...it generally hits every tank at some stage. I use a medication called "Protozin" and find that its brilliant. A large bottle will last you for years.
Amiee
New Member
I would get clean the gravel, in boiling water. Clean the tank in a anti ich med, diluted. Rinse well. Sorry to hear of your loss.
scorphonic
Fishaholic
I wouldn't agree with the anti Ich med....like all other bacteria some will have a resistance to it...so it is likely that it will persist in the tank...your better off using the diluted bleach solution...that way you can be 100% sure that all the Ich is gone!!
Well I just started doing this fish thing so it was a brand new tank so idk if it was the ick that killed them or the tank cycling?? I dont know for sure. I got some medication and put it in but the fish just kept dying. Idk, I am not an expert on this stuff yet! haha. I have one baby guppy that I put in a different tank till I got everything all cleaned out and everything. It seems like he is okay though. Idk if I got bad fish or what. I got all my fish from Earl May and at first 2 of em died and I took em back and they gave me two new fish and he gave me some stupid excuse and said sometimes they just..well..die. idk the guy wasnt very smart! haha. I wont get fish there anymore. So now I gotta drive an hour away for fish
scorphonic
Fishaholic
Thats a short distance to drive to get fish!! I have to drive about an hour and a half but at least I know the fish are very healthy. One question you should ask the pet store you are buying your fish from is for a sample of their water to test if it is clean and safe. If they refuse buy your fish from a shop that will give you a sample.
Also ask how long they quarantine their fish before selling them to the public. This will let you know if the fish you are buying are healthy. You would expect a good fish store to quarantine their fish for a minimum of 2 weeks and a very very good store will do it for a month.
My store does it for a month and their sales assistants are full of expert advice. Me being a scientist allowed me to grill them on their water chemistry and their answers were very good so I knew instantly that they were a very good store.
Shop around until you find people who will ask the question "what fish do you own already?" This is a good sign that they will refuse you a sale if the fish you are about to buy are not compatable with the fish you already own.
O and do a fishless cycling on your tank...dont use fish to cycle the tank...it can kill them!! (as you know!!)
I have to drive about an hour and a half but at least I know the fish are very healthy. One question you should ask the pet store you are buying your fish from is for a sample of their water to test if it is clean and safe. If they refuse buy your fish from a shop that will give you a sample.Also ask how long they quarantine their fish before selling them to the public. This will let you know if the fish you are buying are healthy. You would expect a good fish store to quarantine their fish for a minimum of 2 weeks and a very very good store will do it for a month.
My store does it for a month and their sales assistants are full of expert advice. Me being a scientist allowed me to grill them on their water chemistry and their answers were very good so I knew instantly that they were a very good store.
Shop around until you find people who will ask the question "what fish do you own already?" This is a good sign that they will refuse you a sale if the fish you are about to buy are not compatable with the fish you already own.
O and do a fishless cycling on your tank...dont use fish to cycle the tank...it can kill them!! (as you know!!
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