Red1313

Sigh... I knew it was a bad idea to leave the house this morning. But now a question for all the fishlore guru's... the used tank.

One is a little 5 gal that I couldn't resit taking home (don't ask me how a fish tank can look abused but this one did) it holds water (far as I know I'll be checking that out myself in ten minuets). Regardless. It needs a really good cleaning so what would be the best way to go about it? It's like a white line kind of film across the glass.
The other tank is a ten gal without a lid that looks brand new. it came with a filter so the question is, used filters good idea, or better off to buy a new one?

Thanks in advance everyone and I'm sorry to bother you again.

witt0018

Hi Red

I'm assuming it's a dry tank, and has only been used for aquatic activities, so here goes.

New filter all the way, you don't know why the tank was abandoned, there may have been disease in there.

Clean the tank with plain soap, then rinse very thoroughly, in my experience, this is best as it has very few chemicals.

When clean, treat as a new tank and cycle it well, make sure the water is right before you introduce any fish.

Hope this is helpful

Trev

Red1313

Thanks Trev, the 5 gal was a goldfish tank (now unsued for a few years) the 10 was there b/c she's just upgraded to a larger one. I suppose I should have added that earlier.

dking271

You could use vinegar to remove any stubborn hard water marks on the glass. I would then clean again with soap and water.

Lucy

I'd stay away from the soap, any residue can kill your fish.

You could use belach, just rince really really well and overdose with dechlorinator.

I never find tanks at yard sales, geez.

BettaGirl92

You shouldn't clean your tank or anything IN your tank with soap. It's VERYYY bad for your fish and even in plain soap, the chemicals are toxic to them. PLEASEEE don't use it.

Bleach or vinegar is wonderful for cleaning your tank, just make sure you rinse them well before putting water in and starting your cycle.

And yes, a new filter should be bought because as wit0018 said, you don't know if that tank had a disease or not.

Good luck with your new tanks.

Red1313

Thanks everybody I don't know what I'd do without you guys and this site.

COBettaCouple

If the filter is a good one, I'd keep it, just put new media in it after throughly cleaning it with the 1:19 bleach:hot water mix.

MrsM3197

ROFL, I love garage sales just for that particular reason!!! Red, everybody else got you taken care of for cleaning. Use vinegar and rinse OR use bleach and rinse. If you find you have a small leak, use aquarium silicone and seal it up. I'm not so sure about the filter, I think you'd take it apart...assuming it's one you can take apart, and clean and rinse each piece and just replace the filter media. Congrats on the new tanks!!!

Bede

LOL! Love the title of this thread. I posted earlier this year about stalking my neighbors garage sale this spring and then coming home with two new tanks!

I was informed a while back that cracked or leaky tanks are GREAT for keeping reptiles in (so says a certain boy of mine who now wants a lizard tank to go along with our 7 fish tanks).

witt0018

never used bleach, always used soap and rinsed well, guess I'm outnumbered though.

Whatever you use, make sure you rinse it well, vinager will increase your acidity, bleach will just kill everything, and as said, soap will probably contain some toxins.

So, as I said, make sure there is no residue of anything.

Good luck

Lucy

I remember that. You sent your son to do the dirty work. lol

Fishies-for-me

Just remember that if you use bleach...( imho the best choice to disinfect.) to use a good dose of declor to neutralize it after.

angelfish220

Pure Chlorine water mixture (basically cheap bleach) can be removed simply via water conditioner.

Another good thing to use is pure ammonia and water mixture, as this will be removed by any of the nitrofying bacteria that has to grow in your tank before you add fish.

Soap chemicals just stay there and kill everything in the tank. (that is what cause my first mass death )

I think that SirDark once said that pure rubbing alchohol could be used, if you rinse with hot water as it causes the alchohol to evaporate. But I have never tried this.

Shawnie

I so love YARDSALES!! they rock for used tanks....not to mention, the price is right! LOL

id use either the 1 part bleach to 19 parts water, or vinegar and water....id never ever use soap of any kind, as the residue and the leftover chemicals in most soaps, wont wash out with just a rince's even with hot water.. soaps now a days, have softners and bacterial remedies as well as spf's, that make them almost impossible to totally rince off...

as CBC said, if the filter runs, id clean that with the vinegar and just buy new filter media...always HOT HOT HOT water rince's a few times after cleaning, no matter what you choose to disinfect with

we will expect pics and updates of course as you go along!! congrats!

Red1313

THanks everybody.

KyWildFish

DONT MIX THE BLEACH WITH THE AMMONIA!!!! I know this is common sense for most but I have to warn of the dangers. The mix is VERY dangerous to humans and fish alike. DO NOT MIX THEM. If you feel you need to use both make sure one is rinsed completely from the tank.

Red1313

I used a light vinegar mix. It seemed like the safest bet. Thanks for the advice everyone. I'll give it one more good rinse with water tonight. Even if the vinegar raises the acidity in my tank it won't be a big deal since according to every water test I've ever done my water is rated as "excellent buffer capabilities".
...
Now on to the fun stuff of setting it up!