Stradius011

Let's say that I had a platy in the hospital tank and he had ich. Later I put him in a different tank since he got better. Let's say I have a platy with a dropsy now. Should I clean the hospital tank before I put him in? Would fish diseases affect snails or shrimps?

Gunnie

I would definately clean the hospital tank before using it again. I'm not sure about the fish diseases affecting your shrimp or snails. However, the meds might affect them if you treat in that tank.

Richard

Once the sick fish is back in his/her tank, yes you should disinfect your hospital-tank so it's ready for the next case.

Stradius011

Should I clean the hospital tank with vinegar and water solution?

Richard

A vinegar/water solution would do the trick, after which you rinse out the tank thoroughly and let dry in the sun if possible.

Stradius011

Well how much vinegar should we add?

Tumbleweed

how large is the tank? You don't need very much it's like a 10/1 ratio of water/vinegar

Stradius011

Thanks! I get the vinegar thing now.

Stradius011

Actually, I don't. I was about to clean my tank when all of these questions popped into my head. Should I clean the decorations in there with the vinegar/water solution? Okay and when you clean the tank do you fill it with water 9/10 and with water 1/10 and use a sponge to scrubb the tank?

Tumbleweed

yes you need to clean everything that is in the tank. You can use a sponge but it must be new otherwise there will be traces of soap still on the sponge. I use terrie cloth towels to clean my tanks, I have a stack that are for the fish tanks only. If it is a 10 gallon tank you only need to use say 1-2 quarts of water and like 1/4-1/2 cup of vinegar. After the wash make sure to rinse all of the decor and the tank out very well to remove any remaining traces of vinegar from the tank. The vinegar is toxic to fish.

Stradius011

Thanks!!! I'm scared that I won't remove the all the vinegar....

Tumbleweed

You got all of the vinegar out of the tank when you smell the tank and no longer can smell the vinegar in the tank

Stradius011

Great!!! Thanks, I understand the vinegar/water thing now.

Tumbleweed

then when done just let it air dry out in the sun.

Stradius011

Okay.