I've just acquired a 30 gallon tank that I'm using for a QT tank for my discus. They haven't had it running in a long time. I'm wondering what's the best way to clean it? Just soap and water? Bleach? What about the filter? How do I clean that? Also, do I clean the bio wheel or buy another one? The only thing I have to get is a lid. They used a screen. I've never known anyone to use a screen. I would think all the noise would bother the fish?
What's the best way to clean a second hand tank?
- Thread starter Diann62
- Start date
If you are talking about disinfecting the tank, filter, etc., BLEACH! I usually dump a cup of bleach in fill with water, take the filter, etc. apart and toss it in and let it set for a few hours, making sure to wipe down all the outside and get the disinfecting water into all the nooks and crannies. When the is done, rinse with white vinegar, or a solution made with a cup of vinegar and a cup of water--this will neutralize the bleach. Of course, be careful with non-submersible heaters and such and made sure you do not damage them with the solutions--i.e., don't let the solutions get into the circuitry--with submersible heaters there is no worry. Rinse everything well with clear water when done.
If I am saving the gravel, I have a cheap little propane stove with uses a cylinder of gas and I boil the gravel in a big pot on it. Non-porus gravel can also be bleached and neutralized in the vinegar solution.
For water deposits, you will need vinegar, limeaway (or another such product) or muratic acid can be used--neutralize vinegar with baking soda and do a final rinse in clear water.
A razor blade can carefully be used to move any heavy deposits of mineral deposits, before, during and after all of this as is suitable--just take care not to scratch the glass--and of course, use NO razor blade on a plastic tank! Indeed, even a green pad scrubber will scratch the plastic!
Regards,
JS
Pick up a bottle of CLR from your hardware supplier, it'll go hardcore on those hard water/calcium deposit stains.
My own cleaning regime is simple. I just bought a 55 this weekend off of Craig's list. The starting point for me was to remove all of the gravel and ornaments etc. Once empty, the tank got a good thorough rinse at the end of a garden hose while it was standing on one end. That way I don't get any water buildup in the tank while I'm working. The hose gets the glass wet and a non-scratching scotch-brite cleans the hard water deposits without leaving behind any chemical contaminants. The gravel also gets a good thorough cleaning as if it was new gravel. I do not use any chemicals to clean the tank because I intend to put fish in it. Soap would be especially bad to use and is very difficult to rinse out afterwards. If I am concerned about diseases coming from previous use, I treat it with bleach. Bleach is chlorine so it is something we can readily deal with after the chlorine has had a chance to work in the tank. After the chlorine treatment you can do 3 or 4 full volume changes to remove all but the slightest remaining residue then use a dechlorinator to finish up. In my case, the tank was dry when I bought it so I didn't worry about sterilizing since water-bourne problems don't survive a thorough drying out very well at all. When everything is clean, the tank gets a dry out to again kill most fish type pathogens by them being too dry. A few days of standing dry before filling will work wonders for the health of the tank.
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OldMan47 I like your suggestions so that's what I'll do. The tank was dry and hasn't been used in a while so I guess nothing can live in there. I'll hose it down today. I should be getting the fish in a week and a half.
Que
I wish I was a fish I wish.
Vinegar has worked well for me. I put the tank on it's side on a towel on the floor and poured vinegar inside the tank so it pooled just enough to make all the glass wet. I'd leave this overnight and clean with a scotch brite pad in the morning, then switch to another side and clean in the evening. In 2 days the job was done with very little effort.
Q
Q
For light build up, I love vinegar. If it is warm, or I am worried about the vinegar drying out before it has done its' job, I place a layer of saran wrap (or equiv. over it), this helps to "hold" the vinegar right on the buildup, also ... and, multiple treatments may be required--depending on the extent of the buildup ...
But on very heavy buildups, on GLASS, nothing works like a razor blade and muratic acid ... on plastic, forget the razor blade!
Regards,
JS