Using A 10 Gallon Hamster Tank

[wolfrad]

I just picked up a 10 gallon at a yard sale for $1.50 today and the lady told me it had had hamters in it in the past. I took it home and cleaned it out really good with vinegar and rinsed out numerous times, I plan on filling it up with bleach water today and letting it set for an hour or so to clean out the tank better, rinse well and let dry at least a week before I even come close to adding fish. Is this saffe, I can't see anything in the tank that looks abnormal and it's been taken great care of.

 

[Aphotic Phoenix]

Make sure to check the seals on the tank carefully. Rodents can do awful things to them.

 

[wolfrad]

Make sure to check the seals on the tank carefully. Rodents can do awful things to them.

I've made quit a few checks all over the tank and all the sealant seems to be in great order, who ever it was that had it took good care of it. I'm figuring that the bleach will kill anything that might cause any damage at all to the fish.

 

[-germ-]

I'd advise adding some dechlorinator (2 tablespoons worth to every cup worth of water) and some PH regulator (whatever the pack says) with water as a secondary soak.
Then again that kind of defeats the point of a cheap tank...
Em, good luck
Have you tested the tank with water yet? Leave it full overnight or better for 3 days+ just to be certain there are no leaks before you go adding any fish.
I had a tank bust on an old 24 gal (ish) fish tank with 'perfect' seals....
Water everywhere

 

[wolfrad]

I'd advise adding some dechlorinator (2 tablespoons worth to every cup worth of water) and some PH regulator (whatever the pack says) with water as a secondary soak.
Then again that kind of defeats the point of a cheap tank...
Em, good luck
Have you tested the tank with water yet? Leave it full overnight or better for 3 days+ just to be certain there are no leaks before you go adding any fish.
I had a tank bust on an old 24 gal (ish) fish tank with 'perfect' seals....
Water everywhere

That's a great idea, after soaking and rinsing the tank in clorox I'll set on top of the old stove on our back porch and let it set for 3-4 days like to mentioned, Thanks. I'd let it soak with bleach for many days but I have a 7 yr. old and 4 yr. old girl that like to put things in their mouth so it would be not a great idea to do. My 4 yr. old girl was rushed to the ER due to putting ammonia in her mouth about 4 wks. ago, we thought she had swallowed some but it turned out that she probably just spit it out immediately after hitting her mouth// very stsrong stuff. It's amazing what it'll take to open your eyes about poisons around the house, you never think it'll be one of your kids that will be rushed to the hospital.

 

[n3ont3tra]

I'd advise adding some dechlorinator (2 tablespoons worth to every cup worth of water) and some PH regulator (whatever the pack says) with water as a secondary soak.
Then again that kind of defeats the point of a cheap tank...
Em, good luck
Have you tested the tank with water yet? Leave it full overnight or better for 3 days+ just to be certain there are no leaks before you go adding any fish.
I had a tank bust on an old 24 gal (ish) fish tank with 'perfect' seals....
Water everywhere

That's a great idea, after soaking and rinsing the tank in clorox I'll set on top of the old stove on our back porch and let it set for 3-4 days like to mentioned, Thanks. I'd let it soak with bleach for many days but I have a 7 yr. old and 4 yr. old girl that like to put things in their mouth so it would be not a great idea to do. My 4 yr. old girl was rushed to the ER due to putting ammonia in her mouth about 4 wks. ago, we thought she had swallowed some but it turned out that she probably just spit it out immediately after hitting her mouth// very stsrong stuff. It's amazing what it'll take to open your eyes about poisons around the house, you never think it'll be one of your kids that will be rushed to the hospital.

I don't really think soaking it in PH regulator is all that important, maybe just ammonia. Also, try to let it sit on a flat surface, because one time I had a ten gallon that had been in use for a few years, completely level, then I had to take it down. When I put it back up, I tested to make sure it still held water, but I didn't test it on a flat surface and the front corners leaked a lot because it was tilted that way.
About eating stuff, watch out for hand sanitizers. Lots of little kids seem to want to eat it for some reason, and just three squirts is pretty bad, I think there was a thread on it in one of the general hobbies section.

 

[-germ-]

The PH regulator and dechlorinator are just a back up, considering bleach is a serious PH buffer and chlorine kills fish.
Better safe than sorry, or so they say....

 

[Chubbywubs]

I think your on the right track with all the cleaning, but i've had a hamster before, and they usually wee in the corners, (rather than rats that constantly wee) so you might want to get an old tooth brush and just scrub those areas just to be on the safe side.

 

[vinylman]

When you clean it out, use 1 part bleach to 19 parts water.

 

[scorphonic]

When you clean it out, use 1 part bleach to 19 parts water.

I agree. Nothing else required other than the bleach and the seal test by filling the tank up fully on a flat surface.

 

[ArauraDiscus]

Rinse the bleach out really good, then add a thi-sulfate solution to neutralize the bleach instantly, and your immediately ready for fish after one more rinse to remove the thisulfate..

 

[-germ-]

When i posted my earlier comment i was basing it on a 1:1 water bleach ratio, again better safe than sorry.
I have cleaned items (purigen filter pad) using the 1:1 bleach(24 hour soak), followed by dechlor and Ph neutralizer (4 hour soak)with no dead fish and with it having been a hamster 'tank' i'd personally be extra careful.
That is not to suggest that 1:19 won't work, just my experience.....
Edit; Or in addition that arauras suggestion won't.

 

[Meds081603]

We have lots of pets and have had hamsters, geckos, mice, fish, hermit crabs, and snakes housed in aquariums that had been used by the others. Just clean em good like everyone has already mentioned and check for leaks.

 

[wolfrad]

If I clean with bleach more than a 19:1 ratio and I let tank set for a few weeks will that be long enough to allow all the bleach to disperse out into the air? I just moved here in Pennsylvania and will probably set the tank up either this month or next, but I wanted to make sure to clean it out now and check everything out while I had the time.

 

[vinylman]

Bear in mind, of course, that if you're using something for Tropicals, make sure it can handle the heat when you stick the heater to the wall. Some plastics seem fairly tough but don't take heat too well.