Best Way to Clean a New Tank

[JMeyer]

So I just bought a new 55 gallon tank with a heater, lights, and a couple filters all for $80 (what a steal). Anyway, the tank is quite filthy and I wondered what the best way was to clean the tank. I know soap is a no-no. In the past I have just used cold water and scrubbed down new tanks. Are there good products out there for this I should be aware of? Or does cold water do the trick? Thanks in advance.

 

[nirbhao]

White vinegar or bleach.

 

[Mcfly]

Use a diluted bleach (unscented, just bleach) solution if you go that route 1/4 cup per gallon of water should do the job.... rinse the pogies out of it. When you fill the tank, a full dose of PRIME will dechlorinate (bleach is chlorine) the water. Wait 24 hours before you start cycling to be safe. (That's how I do it anyway)

 

[ImACoolguy]

White vinegar and warm water are my go to for cleaning tanks. You can also use green scrub pads as long as they haven't been used with other cleaning products.

 

[Ingy]

I never put bleach into a tank I'm going to add ammonia to (for the cycle). Together those 2 create poisonous chlorine gas.
So I always use vinegar to clean it.