Disinfecting a Tank [Archive]

CharlesMTF

10-20-2003, 10:41 PM

Disinfecting a tank... would you say its fair to say a heavy concentration of salt for a few hours, and then a complete cleaning with basic tap water would rid a tank of any nasties?

valerie

10-20-2003, 10:48 PM

Wht type of nasties are you trying to get rid of? Most tanks will onyl need to be cleaned out with water and maybe be scraped with a razor if it is a used tank with calcium deposits.

If you are really concerned salt will do the job but make sure you rinse well. I have even used bleach before with good success. Just make sure to rinse and use dechlor. and let it dry for a day or 2.

Locust

10-21-2003, 12:27 AM

If there's something in the tank you want to kill, nothing beats bleach. Make sure to wash and dry the tank thoroughly afterwards and let the tank sit for a few days to be safe. Bleach is just chlorine, so it'll disperse just like the chlorine in tap water. Adding a good amount of dechlorinater when you first fill up the tank is a very good idea, though after a few days your tank should be bleach free.

Don't use soap, since that'll kill your fish and there's no way to be sure you've gotten all the soap out.

OrionGirl

10-21-2003, 8:19 AM

Oxyclean is the perfect tank cleaner. It doesn't leave a residue, so no dechlorinating, and it will help loosen hard water deposits for easy removal as well.

Grassguy

10-21-2003, 9:18 AM

Last cleaning on my 55, I filled it with water and added approx 1/2 cup Clorox. Lat it sit in the sun about 3 hours then drained it and did 2 complete refills and drains. Then one last refill with dechlor. After set up, there were no problems.:cool:

CharlesMTF

10-21-2003, 1:35 PM

Not looking to rid the tank of anything for now. I was just looking to expand my knowledge. Basically, if I were to start a fresh new tank, maybe a few months after dismantling a current tank, that same tank I'd like to make sure it was completely disinfected. If not for any nasties that might be in there (which there shouldn't as the current fish would be fine) but also to rid it of any of the small worms that love living in the substrate, or the white planaria on the glass, or basically ANYTHING alive in the tank.

I guess maybe hot water can do it as well, but definitely wouldn't want the glass to shatter.
:)