Cleaning used tanks - Aquarium Advice

ILuv3ggs · 02-02-2006, 10:10 PM

Hello!

These forums look great! So much useful stuff for noobies like me

I have an old 180 litre fishtank thats been sitting unused for about 6 months and didn't really have a chance to give it a good clean when I had to empty the tank and move it (painting/renovating). The most i did was let it sit in the sun for a week and gave it a quick scrub with a clean rag and water. Much of the algea is still on the glass, and was just wondering what the best way is to fully clean the tank so i can use it again and not risk having any of the old algea bloom and diseases/bacteria (if any) start living again. I heard if you're not careful, these things can carry over into your new setup ?

I also heard that white vinegar is good to clean the tank/filter/etc, but would rather hear it from people with some experience.

Again, these forums look great

Thanks to anyone who can help.

DeFeKt · 02-02-2006, 10:18 PM

if it's glass, nothing beats scraping the gunk off with a razor blade, just be careful of the seems.
reasons of fish and plants dying etc, may be better in another thread.

Matt.

YuccaPatrol · 02-03-2006, 12:24 AM

I was given a 29 gal that was so covered with mineral deposits and old algae that you could not see through it. Vinegar, a scrub brush (nylon bristles), and a razor blade solved all of that!

Just rinse the vinegar out thoroughly.

Good luck!

ILuv3ggs · 02-03-2006, 12:30 AM

Thanks for the replies

Lonewolfblue · 02-03-2006, 12:52 AM

White Vinegar works wonders.....

BillD · 02-03-2006, 02:22 AM

I always bleach a tank before use. It will kill any algae and pathogens, but won't remove mineral deposits. For that I use vinegar.

ILuv3ggs · 02-03-2006, 06:52 AM

How do you remove the bleach residue ? Just flush with water ??

stainless_wm · 02-03-2006, 07:10 AM

In the past when I have used those methods to clean a tank. When done, yes, just flush the tank a lot, I pretty much go with the idea if you can smell ANY cleaning supplies,,,,keep flushing.

The final question,,, would you drink that water?

But I am a little wierd.

Wade

BillD · 02-03-2006, 07:33 AM

If you bleach first, the vinegar will neutralize the bleach.

ILuv3ggs · 02-03-2006, 08:39 AM

mm, i'll give it ago

thanks again

02-02-2006, 10:10 PM	#1
ILuv3ggs Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	Cleaning used tanks Hello! These forums look great! So much useful stuff for noobies like me I have an old 180 litre fishtank thats been sitting unused for about 6 months and didn't really have a chance to give it a good clean when I had to empty the tank and move it (painting/renovating). The most i did was let it sit in the sun for a week and gave it a quick scrub with a clean rag and water. Much of the algea is still on the glass, and was just wondering what the best way is to fully clean the tank so i can use it again and not risk having any of the old algea bloom and diseases/bacteria (if any) start living again. I heard if you're not careful, these things can carry over into your new setup ? I also heard that white vinegar is good to clean the tank/filter/etc, but would rather hear it from people with some experience. Again, these forums look great Thanks to anyone who can help.

02-02-2006, 10:18 PM	#2
DeFeKt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: perth australia Posts: 1,435 Images: 18	if it's glass, nothing beats scraping the gunk off with a razor blade, just be careful of the seems. reasons of fish and plants dying etc, may be better in another thread. Matt. __________________ Dimidiochromis compressiceps, Astatotilapia latifasciata Melanochromis cyaneorhabdos Labidochromis caeruleus Cynotilapia afra 'Cobue' Pseudotropheus acei 'Msuli Point' Aulunocara stuartgranti 'chipoka' Labidochromis freibergi Oreochromis mossambicus Etroplus suratensis

02-03-2006, 12:30 AM	#4
ILuv3ggs Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	Thanks for the replies __________________ 50 gal Freshwater : PLANNING STAGES 36x18x18 2x Sajica Cichlid (T-Bar)

02-03-2006, 12:52 AM	#5
Lonewolfblue Planted Geek Community Mentor Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 7,871 Images: 7	White Vinegar works wonders..... __________________ 26G Medium Planted Community - 65W CF Lighting - Emperor 280 Bio-Wheel - Established Feb 2004 55G Aggressive Community - Filstar XP3 - Established Dec 2005 75G Heavily Planted - Pressurized CO2, 520W Lighting, Filstar XP3 with spraybar - Established Feb 2006 29G Planted - 130W Lighting, Filstar XP2 with spraybar - Established May 2006 5 10G Tanks - Various setups - Tanks Established May-Sep 2006. 3 currently empty. 5.5G Crypt/Java Fern Tank - Established Oct 2006 My 29G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=78469 My 75G Thread : http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=70764 My 75G Makeover Thread: http://www.aquariumadvice.com/viewtopic.php?t=87691

02-03-2006, 02:22 AM	#6
BillD Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada Posts: 930	I always bleach a tank before use. It will kill any algae and pathogens, but won't remove mineral deposits. For that I use vinegar. __________________ Join a fish club. Don't have one in your area? Start one.

02-03-2006, 12:24 AM	#3
YuccaPatrol Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Burning-Ham Alabama Posts: 170 Images: 9	I was given a 29 gal that was so covered with mineral deposits and old algae that you could not see through it. Vinegar, a scrub brush (nylon bristles), and a razor blade solved all of that! Just rinse the vinegar out thoroughly. Good luck!

02-03-2006, 06:52 AM	#7
ILuv3ggs Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	How do you remove the bleach residue ? Just flush with water ?? __________________ 50 gal Freshwater : PLANNING STAGES 36x18x18 2x Sajica Cichlid (T-Bar)

02-03-2006, 07:10 AM	#8
stainless_wm Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kansas Posts: 131 Images: 1	In the past when I have used those methods to clean a tank. When done, yes, just flush the tank a lot, I pretty much go with the idea if you can smell ANY cleaning supplies,,,,keep flushing. The final question,,, would you drink that water? But I am a little wierd. Wade __________________ Monday is a lousy way to spend 1/7 of your life-Garfield the Cat In a perfect world, we would have gills,,,,,and opposable toes.-- Me

02-03-2006, 07:33 AM	#9
BillD Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Whitby, Ont,Canada Posts: 930	If you bleach first, the vinegar will neutralize the bleach. __________________ Join a fish club. Don't have one in your area? Start one.

02-03-2006, 08:39 AM	#10
ILuv3ggs Aquarium Advice Apprentice Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Brisbane, Australia Posts: 16	mm, i'll give it ago thanks again __________________ 50 gal Freshwater : PLANNING STAGES 36x18x18 2x Sajica Cichlid (T-Bar)

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