mikeyboy76

Hi guys, great site by the way. Well here's the story. Have been given an old (about 6mths) but new to me fish tank. It held cold water fish but will now house some lovely new tropical fish. Am I right in thinking that i wash with just water all the filters, heaters, stones and gravel etc and then start a whole new cycle right form the start?
Any info would be helpful,

Thanks for your help,

Mike.

Barbrella

Has this tank been empty long? If not I personally, I would clean it with a bleach solution (1 part bleach, 19 parts water) to make sure any "bugs" are gone! Then rinse, rinse, rinse and you'll be ready to start cycling.

Shawnie

welcome to fishlore!!!!!! if it its been running, you may be able to save the cycle and continue on ....otherwise id clean it in hot water with lots of rinsing..im too scared to use bleach even in small amounts...but I hear teh 1-19 parts works well

mikeyboy76

It's been empty for about 10hrs now and is safely at my house. Still bleach it or just rinse and fill? Another question that seesm very strange but it is really important is.....the tank has nothing on it to tell me the capacity...is there a way of working this out by the size?

Cheers,

Mike.

Shawnie

id just fill it and let the filter run...if the filter is totally dried out, you may have lost the beneficial bacteria..I dont think you need a deep cleaning after just 10 hours.... and use this link to figure its gallons or litres etc

http://www.firsttankguide.net/calculator.php

mikeyboy76

Thanks Shawnie!! The tank works out to about 175 UKgallons.I'll rinse and re-start the filters and see what the readings are and go from there!! I'll kepp ya posted, Thanks for all your help,

Mike.

COBettaCouple

Welcome to Fishlore.

Nice sized tank there! I'd clean it as recommended, fishless cycle it and then stock it as you'd like.