Adding chlorine on purpose?

[squirrilah fish]

Doing a major clean since I got home from Vaca, and I have a few problems. Diatoms, possibly bacterial issues.

In the middle of a deep clean, and was thinking of adding untreated tap water until I fill the tank, and then adding prime exposing them to chlorine for possibly 15 minutes or so. Also might have trace amounts of copper.

How dangerous is this idea?

 

[jetajockey]

I think it'll take more than just tap water to kill off any kind of bacteria or diatoms. a 1:20 bleach solution would be more effective.

The copper thing is another issue, but really just depends on if its enough to be toxic.

 

[squirrilah fish]

I took everything out of the tank, scrubbed and bleached it, except for my sponges. It was overdue.

I did fill the tank with just tap water and added prime after. They did not like it, but it did seem to help.

Everyone is looking much better this morning, I don't think I have bacterial issues, just some nibbled scales.

 

[PB_Smith]

You do realize that you are going to have to go through a cycling process again.
Taking everything out and cleaning/bleaching it, then filling the tank with untreated water, you just killed off your population of beneficial bacteria.
Everything may "look" fine now, but I very strongly recommend that you cut back on feeding and begin daily water testing for ammonia, nitrite, nitrate.
I hope the sponges you kept "dirty" have enough of a bacterial population to handle the bio-load until the rest of the tank can get re-established.
Cleaning everything in a tank all at one time is one of the worst things you can do except in the case of obvious poisoning.

 

[Brookster123]

"except for sponges" would imply that care was taken not to kill off bb colony???

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

 

[PB_Smith]

"except for sponges" would imply that care was taken not to kill off bb colony???

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Yeah, but there is still going to be a period of "cycling" to get the system back up to where it was before.
Like I said, I hope the BB retained in the sponges will be enough to handle the bio-load.
OP, just keep on eye on water quality/chemistry.

 

[squirrilah fish]

"except for sponges" would imply that care was taken not to kill off bb colony???

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using Aquarium Advice mobile app

Yes, exactly. And I do tests daily, and generally keep things pretty well looked after, I don't know what happened while I was on vacation. I have never had Diatoms in this tank before, but it had been a few months since I did a deep clean. I usually do one once a month, but lately I've just been content doing water changes. Nitrates where at 20 this morning, gonna do another 50% change tomorrow.

 

[PB_Smith]

Yes, exactly. And I do tests daily, and generally keep things pretty well looked after, I don't know what happened while I was on vacation. I have never had Diatoms in this tank before, but it had been a few months since I did a deep clean. I usually do one once a month, but lately I've just been content doing water changes. Nitrates where at 20 this morning, gonna do another 50% change tomorrow.

Sounds like your on top of it then.
I just can't tell you how many times I've heard
"I don't understand why they are all dying, I cleaned everything in the tank and the filters just a few days ago?"

 

[squirrilah fish]

Sounds like your on top of it then.
I just can't tell you how many times I've heard
"I don't understand why they are all dying, I cleaned everything in the tank and the filters just a few days ago?"

Ya, unfortunately I have heard that on here a lot too. My system is over filtered. The 2 sponge air filters the sponge from my Fluval Aquaclear and the Biowheel on my Marineland I did not touch at all. Other than a quick rinse in tank water. I added some stability too, but yes I will keep an eye out for signs of cycling.