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eric
Guest
Okay. So since my first attempt was a collosal failure.... what is the best way to really clean a tank, filter, and decos? Should I use antibacterial soap? Bleach? Any suggestions?
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dev
Guest
DO NOT use soap it is very difficult to totattly eliminate its presence and even in small doses is lethal. Here is a list of equipment that can be used
# Algae scraper/pads
# Bleach
# Water siphon
# Lime remover (made for aquariums)
# Glass cleaner (made for aquariums)
# Filter media and brush
Prepare a 10% bleach solution soak whatever for 10-15 mins or so, plants can be bleached as well but be careful.
Glass and lime cleaners can clean the hood, light, tank top and other tank equipment.
A Filter brush works pretty good.
(Message edited by solaris on August 24, 2005)
# Algae scraper/pads
# Bleach
# Water siphon
# Lime remover (made for aquariums)
# Glass cleaner (made for aquariums)
# Filter media and brush
Prepare a 10% bleach solution soak whatever for 10-15 mins or so, plants can be bleached as well but be careful.
Glass and lime cleaners can clean the hood, light, tank top and other tank equipment.
A Filter brush works pretty good.
(Message edited by solaris on August 24, 2005)
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grant
Guest
I wouldn't use bleach unless you have done it before. If it isn't diluted right or it has traces left in the tank it can kill anything that goes in it. A friend of mine cleaned out a tank with a diluted bleach solution before...added in the new water and fish after washing it out "good" and they were all dead within the day.
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dev
Guest
true you need a 9:1 water to bleach ratio and it should be precise.
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edward
Guest
If you are concerned about using bleach, use a dechlorinator to rinse the tank when you are done cleaning it as it will remove all traces of the bleach.
If you clean porus items like some types of stones, you need to soak the stone in clean water and then in the dechlorinator before reusing (I would also suggest a lengthy airdrying period to make sure that the bleach has been removed). Organic material like wood are better discarded and replaced than attempting to clean and make safer after bleaching.
I use only bleach to clean all of my amphibian enclosures.
Ed
If you clean porus items like some types of stones, you need to soak the stone in clean water and then in the dechlorinator before reusing (I would also suggest a lengthy airdrying period to make sure that the bleach has been removed). Organic material like wood are better discarded and replaced than attempting to clean and make safer after bleaching.
I use only bleach to clean all of my amphibian enclosures.
Ed
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cynthia
Guest
Eric - What failed? You just got the tank, what was wrong?
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eric
Guest
I'm not sure Cynthia, it started to smell and a film of bubbly slime formed on the surface of the tank. I'm not sure if it was something from the sand, or the filter, or that I let the water stand for 3 days without the filter being on. So I am going to start again. I think I am going to put the water in the tank first and put the filter on and see if it came from that. The filter was used by the previous owner and its really the only thing I didn't clean - because they say not to clean the biowheels. I think I may get new bio wheels. I am also going to re-bake the sand since the sand has been contaminated with the slime. Oh well, it builds character.
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cynthia
Guest
Eric - If it were me... I would clean the sand while it is in the tank since the water is a mess anyway.
Instead of removing all the sand I would gravel vacuum it to death and then refill the tank and do it again.
If the bio wheels were allowed to dry out they are probably not holding any beneficial bacteria anymore and would need to be running on the filter for a while to get a culture growing again. I would use them instead of buying new ones, unless they are all bent up and wont turn. Once you start using the filter never wash the bio wheels and don't pick off the crust that grows on them.
I think you said the filter was a penquin 300 or 330? Mine has baskets in the filter compartment that you can fill with extra carbon. If yours has those little baskets I would fill them up. This would help remove the smell.
Instead of removing all the sand I would gravel vacuum it to death and then refill the tank and do it again.
If the bio wheels were allowed to dry out they are probably not holding any beneficial bacteria anymore and would need to be running on the filter for a while to get a culture growing again. I would use them instead of buying new ones, unless they are all bent up and wont turn. Once you start using the filter never wash the bio wheels and don't pick off the crust that grows on them.
I think you said the filter was a penquin 300 or 330? Mine has baskets in the filter compartment that you can fill with extra carbon. If yours has those little baskets I would fill them up. This would help remove the smell.
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eric
Guest
Gravel Vacuum.... ? That sounds a lot easier than re-baking 100 lbs of sand. Do they have them at Petsmart? And yes, the baskets are empty right now since there was nothing in the tank except water. I've drained the tank and removed the roots (they smell and so does the filter.) Do you have any idea what the scum is? My roomate thinks it was from the water stagnating.
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cynthia
Guest
They do have them at petsmart. I recommend a water python if it will hook up to your kitchen sink and reach the room where you have the aquarium in. No hauling water buckets with the python.
Here is a link to it at petsmart http://tinyurl.com/cjo8b
Seems odd your water went bad so fast. I can't say for sure what happened. But I would get some carbon in that filter.
(Message edited by cynorita on August 25, 2005)
Here is a link to it at petsmart http://tinyurl.com/cjo8b
Seems odd your water went bad so fast. I can't say for sure what happened. But I would get some carbon in that filter.
(Message edited by cynorita on August 25, 2005)
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eric
Guest
Cynthia, I am keeping my tank upstairs in my bedroom. The bathroom faucet is what I would use for cleaning the tank. Would the water siphon or the Water Python work on a bathroom fixture? The fixture does not have threads.
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cynthia
Guest
You need threads because the python screws on to the faucet.
I have a brass adapter that screws up inside my kitchen faucet.
I have a brass adapter that screws up inside my kitchen faucet.