Okay, it all started with a one gallon aquarium at a garage sale for $3.00. Then I brought the 29 gallon up from the basement. Now, this past week-end, I bought a four foot long tank w/stand (don't know yet how many gallons it is). My question is, what is the best way of cleaning the tank, the bio-filter, the gravel, etc.??? Can/should I use the filters that are in it, or buy new ones? Any advice would be appreciated.
Cleaning used tank/accessories
- Thread starter ratherbe
- Start date
Everything can be swished around and wiped with a 20:1 bleach solution. Do NOT use any soaps of any kind. After that, rinse everything over and over until you don't smell any bleach and then rinse twice with water treated with a 5x dose of dechlorinator.
Any mineral deposits can usually be removed with vinegar.
The filter can be reused if it works, but you probably want to use new media. Should you reuse the filters? It depends on the size of the tank...
Post what filters you have and the measurements of those tanks and we'll let you know.
A "rule of thumb" for a properly stocked aquarium is that you should have filtration capacity approx. for twice the tank volume. For instance, use a filter "rated" for 40 gallons to filter a 20g tank. You can also shoot for rated water flow 6x-10x the size of the tank. Both methods will get you approximately the right amount of filter capacity. Remember, there is almost never any such thing as too much filtration.
SirWired
SirWired
Any mineral deposits can usually be removed with vinegar.
The filter can be reused if it works, but you probably want to use new media. Should you reuse the filters? It depends on the size of the tank...
Post what filters you have and the measurements of those tanks and we'll let you know.
A "rule of thumb" for a properly stocked aquarium is that you should have filtration capacity approx. for twice the tank volume. For instance, use a filter "rated" for 40 gallons to filter a 20g tank. You can also shoot for rated water flow 6x-10x the size of the tank. Both methods will get you approximately the right amount of filter capacity. Remember, there is almost never any such thing as too much filtration.
SirWired
SirWired
I wouldn't bother to use gravel that is used--since it can hold so much bacteria and crap. For used tanks, you can actually clean with clr or oxyclean, just make sure to rinse a lot and soak with a lot of declorinater afterwards. You can also clean tanks with vinigar, lemon juice, and salt. Some one also suggested a paste of baking soda.
It doesn't state on the filter what kind it is, so I'm going to have to look on the internet or go to the LFS to check it out. I have well water, so do I still need to use a dechlorinator? I'm pretty sure the tank is 4'X12"x18", but I'll check tonight when I get home from work.
If you are on well water, you probably do not need to use a dechlorinator for day-to-day water changes, but obviously if you use bleach to clean the equipment, you will need to use some to get the bleach residue properly neutralized.
SirWired
SirWired
Don't mean to thread hijack, however I do have a few quick qs regarding bleach.
I just got some, and it's 5.25% concentrated solution.
Do I still do a 1:20 (bleach:water) to clean equipment/tanks?
If so - I know I need to run it through the filter, how long should I do it for? 24 hours? 2 hours?
I think it's important to get a good "forumla" down for people to see with cleaning their tanks, there's surprisingly LITTLE on this in a formatted section... anywhere
A lot say "Bleach" and some say "X%" and some say the ratio. Some say to just wipe it inside, leave it for a few, rinse and 5x dechlor. Some don't say that.
I know there are no definitive answers to this stuff, however maybe if we can put a beginner's idea out there for people, like me, that'd be awesome
Thanks!
Nick
I just got some, and it's 5.25% concentrated solution.
Do I still do a 1:20 (bleach:water) to clean equipment/tanks?
If so - I know I need to run it through the filter, how long should I do it for? 24 hours? 2 hours?
I think it's important to get a good "forumla" down for people to see with cleaning their tanks, there's surprisingly LITTLE on this in a formatted section... anywhere
A lot say "Bleach" and some say "X%" and some say the ratio. Some say to just wipe it inside, leave it for a few, rinse and 5x dechlor. Some don't say that.
I know there are no definitive answers to this stuff, however maybe if we can put a beginner's idea out there for people, like me, that'd be awesome
Thanks!
Nick
Easy to find out with a tape measure and a calculator.ratherbe said:
Measure the tank in all three dimensions. Get the measurements in inches - 4ft = 48 inches.
Break out the calculator, multiply length x depth x height and divide that number by 231. The answer you get is the capacity in gallons.
4ft x 2ft x 2ft = 48*24*24=27648 cubic inches / 231 = 119.6 gallons
(I'm assuming a standard rectangular tank... corner tanks, bow fronts, hexagons, etc. require a touch more math - but still nothing to tricky)
.
andsoitgoes, I've honestly never checked to see how concentrated my bleach is. The 1:20 dilution is not a hard and fast rule. It's just enough that it still sanitizes effectively, but not so concentrated that you don't want to put your bare hands in it. If you do 1:10, that would still be OK. Others may want 1:40 if they're sensitive to bleach.
If it's used equipment and you have no idea what's been in it, I'd say anywhere from 1:10 to 1:20 is probably ideal. It's ultimately up to you, though. Play with it and see what you like and what you feel works. You still want to be able to smell the bleach in the diluted solution that will be cleaning the stuff.
Afterward, it's always best to rinse everything off with water that has extra dechlorinator in it. If there's ANY bleach/chlorine smell left, add more dechlorinator.
If it's used equipment and you have no idea what's been in it, I'd say anywhere from 1:10 to 1:20 is probably ideal. It's ultimately up to you, though. Play with it and see what you like and what you feel works. You still want to be able to smell the bleach in the diluted solution that will be cleaning the stuff.
Afterward, it's always best to rinse everything off with water that has extra dechlorinator in it. If there's ANY bleach/chlorine smell left, add more dechlorinator.
I cleaned my used tank with vinegar only. It did the job nicely, and I didn't have to worry about getting all the traces of bleach out. The tank is glass, so I used a razor blade to get the calcium off. Did a water test, and everything is where it should be, and the tanks been set up less than a week. We have a well, so it's filled with fresh, unadulterated water right from the ground.