Washing Your Tanks

[dgwebster]

Ok, I've seen a few times the question of washing the tank out, what to use.

Mostly the answers have been the same: with salt or with bleach, lots and lots of rinsing.

Well I've just had a thought - why hasn't anyone suggested using household ammonia watered down, just like it should for a cleaning lotion.

esp if you are planning on doing a fishless cycle anyway and it wont be THAT important to remove all traces of the ammonia...

 

[OohFeeshy]

They do. i always do, anywhoo.

 

[dgwebster]

darn it, that selective reading must be coming in again.

 

[Torrean]

I had a thought on this too. I have a steam cleaner that melts the gunk off of a stove in seconds. It seems to me that this would be the perfect way to clean an old tank.

 

[yvez9]

wouldn't the steam cleaner affect the sealent though?

just a thought as the water is quite warm when it comes out...

 

[Torrean]

Possibly. Your talking about the sealant melting and peeling off right?

 

[dgwebster]

i dont see steam doing that to the sealent unless it is attacked with the steam to make it brittle and crack/flaky - which would take quite a bit i would say it would be very good for cutting down the amount of scrubbing though to loosen or remove the vast majority of muck.

 

[Tolak]

It depends on what you are trying to accomplish. Ammonia would be fine if you are not worried about disinfecting the tank. Bleach is an excellent disinfectant, as well as being ok for cleaning.

For seriously filthy tanks, you can't beat toilet bowl cleaner with hydrochloric acid. Wear gloves & goggles, with lots of ventilation. Do not get it on your skin. I don't think I need to tell anyone to rinse thoroughly afterwards.

 

[Ami]

I always use vinegar - neat or in solution depending on how dirty the tank is.

Has the added benefit of making the glass nice and clean and smear free!