Ich and death = cleaning advice needed

[bhigg32]

So my 55 gallon tank had some serious problems and was topped off by an ich outbreak and wiped all my South American fish. Now I want to go in a different direction, I'm NOT giving up!!!

I would like to go to an African Cichlid tank. No plants, just rock and sand.

I plan on changing out all my filtration (AquaClear 70 x2) sponges, bio, and carbon, as well as cleaning the filters themselves. I plan on emptying out the tank and cleaning it. But with what? Once clean, I'm good to go, just need to know what to do to clean and change over to the higher pH tank (which I know how to get the higher pH). Any advice on cleaning solution would be appreciated.

Thank you!

Brian

 

[haddaj04]

You can use a watered down bleach solution. 1 part clorox 9 parts water and just let it soak for a few hours.

 

[Jumko]

Going that route means you're gonna kill off your beneficial bacteria and start all over again from scratch. Without fish, ich can't survive. Why not just raise the temp up to 90 degrees and add salt for 2-3 weeks isntead? The africans you buy can just as easily carry ich with them into your new tank even without showing any symptoms. Same goes with any new fish you introduce into the tank from that point after.

 

[bhigg32]

I don't mind starting from scratch. I'd like to change the substrate from gravel to sand. It's also maybe just a piece of mind to start fresh since I failed at this chapter...

 

[kiddevo]

realizing that "start from scratch" means you will have to cycle your tank. fishless can take upwards of 4-6 weeks....