how to sterilize a tank that was infected?

[waterbaby73]

Hello could someone tell me how to properly sterilize tanks that housed previous fish? Also I was given a couple tanks that have like white stuff near the top from water evaporating, how do I remove that? If this is answered elsewhere could i be directed to proper spot? thank you.

[Mokomon]

Lots of hot water & rinsing!

As far as the hard water spots, good old vinegar!

[Reefscape]

Good old water and vinegar mixture....

[Bubbles2112]

I use salt, vinegar and warm water. The salt not only provided a safe abraisive but also acts to 'sterilize' the surfaces.

[DAVIDFBT]

If it is a glass tank, you can also use a straight edged razor to get rid of the stubborn white spots.

[Rbishop]

Elbow grease.

[jpappy789]

Using bleach is also an option, though vinegar+salt+water is better IMO.

[kj5kb]

I had a "mystery disease" tank, a 20H...every fishy slowly died in it.

Once all were gone, I left everything running and put 'one glug' of bleach in it (a few ounces?)...a week later the tank was VERY clean. I did a water change, added a bunch of dechlor. Re-cycled it with filter media from another tank. Fish are doing great in it now.

For the hard water stains, I'd get them wet and use a razor blade scraper to remove the worst. Vinegar or dilute muriatic (hydrochloric) acid may remove the rest; both are easily rinsed off vs something like "lime-away". you may find a permanent filmy stain in the glass...not much you can do with that.

[waterbaby73]

Wow thanks everyone, I wasn't sure about using bleach on tank due to chemicals, I should of thought of vinegar though. thanks again everyone appreciate it. Now perhaps I can have pretty looking tanks to use.

[kmcguire]

Disinfection:
Remember that you are probably doing water treatments to get rid of Chlorine bleach already, so to some extent it isn't a problem. It is what I use. On the other hand, Peroxide breaks down into Oxygen and Water, so it would be safer. The thing is that Chlorine seems to be a better disinfectant.
I have also heard of using Potassium Permanganate, but don't know much about it.

Hard water stains:
You want some kind of acid, like vinegar or lemon juice or something like that. Do not mix this acid with Chlorine bleach though.

Ken

[Hairechest]

Great thread!

[foolishfish]

Fairly recent magazine article (can't recall which one) suggested potassium permanganate as a good pre-treat for plants going into an established tank, something like 15 min. dip. Said that about 20 min. would kill just about anything , I think it was referring to uninvited inverts, etc.

Supposed to be available thru hardware stores in the water treatment section.

[chenya]

foolishfish- You are right about the potassium permanganate. In the pond many people use it to treat disease among other things. It can be risky, which is why I have never tried it. I use salt instead. Here is a website that I found a while back talking about it. http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/potassium%20permanganate.htm
some more: http://www.aquariumplants.com/Articles.asp?ID=111
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53618&highlight=Potassium+Permanganate

[addicted2fish]

GREAT LINKS ~~ I always wash my tanks with dawn , and scrub well, use razor blades, and rinse over & over !! ~~~

[foolishfish]

foolishfish- You are right about the potassium permanganate. In the pond many people use it to treat disease among other things. It can be risky, which is why I have never tried it. I use salt instead. Here is a website that I found a while back talking about it. http://www.fishdoc.co.uk/treatments/potassium%20permanganate.htm
some more: http://www.aquariumplants.com/Articles.asp?ID=111
http://www.koiphen.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53618&highlight=Potassium+Permanganate
Great links, thanks. I've got ponds too. Especially good was learning that pot.perm. is just peroxide. I feel a lot better about possibly working with it now.