Cross-tank contamination with PWC?

rosita

rosita

Here
Jan 11, 2006
1,080
0
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Cape Fear River Basin
Okay, I know this is an equipment-related question, but it also has to do with our fish/water etc.

For some reason this thought came to me after 10 months of fishkeeping and relearning from old ways learned when a child. When using a siphon-driven cleaning device (just regular vac or Python--oh, got one at PetSmart over 30 bucks off using on-line printoff!! woot!!)

When doing partial water changes in a hospital tank, or infected tank we either know has some kind of problem--be it parasites, bacteria, or unknown fishkill--I haven't even thought of doing any kind of disinfection of this equipment. Guess getting the Python made me think more deeply. I've noticed my regular gravel vac hose get some algae/mold/mildew in it, and did a dilute bleach, but never thought a bit about it when I had an unknown bloatation disease wipe out my gouramis. I guess some things die when dried out, but not ich cysts? and other things? One could potentially unintentionally transfer all kinds of stuff from one tank to another. I'm pretty smart, but this just never crossed my mind (it's too full!!) Any thoughts out there? Or am I needlessly worrying? :huh:
 
I would think if you rinse it between uses it should be OK. Most of the parasites, etc. should not be able to live on the plastic for very long, especially if the plastic is stored dry. In general I syphon my hospital / quarantine tank anyway. I personally would be more concerned about the cleaning chemicals for the fish.
 
I use 75 foot Python to get all my tanks drained and refilled. I do not think it ever fully dries out. In fact like rosita noted, I get midew in it if the conditions are right. SO, being the paranoid anal retentive individual individual I can be, I flush the hose with a mild bleach solution from a pitcher after every use and poor some on the vac tube. Then flush the whole thing with clean water from the tap.

If I have a QT/Hospital tank set up and active, nothing that gets used there is used on any established tank until cleaned in a bleach solution.

And, the gravel tube is cleaned as I move from tank to tank.

I know, overkill.

But I won't stop.
 
actually this is a good point. you can cross contaminate..

the recommendation is to use nets vacs etc one for each tank..

that's neither economicla or practical. I suggest using either hydrogen peroxide or bleach to clean..

add water to 5 gallon bucket add bleach or peroxide siphon that mixe thru the python/vac dip nets etc
 
I use seperate gravel vacs, buckets, and everything for each tank. I try not to use anything for more than one tank unless I absolutely need to, but I bleach/alcohol it first.
 
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