filter/tank cleaning after no use

[mobababy]

i have a 65 gallon long tank that i emptied out about a month ago, maybe more, so i could seal a leak, well i got around to it last night and the little water that was in there went frothy, or filmy, just a bit of it though (really don't know a better term for it) any way i remember reading a thread about filters and power outages and i am worried about killing what ever fish i put in there, i always start my tanks with $1-2 guppies to make sure nothing else will die off but i don't want to get this one filled just to find out its deadly. i did not empty the filter i just turned everything off and drained the tank with a gravel vac.
the filter i have in there is a penguin biowheel 200
does any one know a safe way to sterilise it all or is that a bad idea. i would really like to get this tank going again. thanks
~michie~
chris' ever so confused wife

 

[Holly9937]

Not sure if I'm missing something, but if it just sat dry/almost dry for a while, there should be nothing toxic to worry about. I would just rinse it out a few times really well. I'm sure you'll also get some replies for more cleaning methods that are safe too!

I would also suggest reading the cycling stickys, there are easier ways to cycle the tank than going the fishy cycle route (using guppys!)

 

[mobababy]

i vacumed the water out and did not dry it, it sat with about a half inch of water in it.
so it went mucky