Cleaning Aquarium Equipment

HI Guys,

As some of you know I have ich in one of my tanks. Only problem is that I have 3 other tanks which need cleaning. I usually have separate siphons for each but they have all got mixed up. This isn’t a problem as I’m just going to go and buy new ones.... the problem is the buckets....

I take all of my ornaments out of my tank to clean and put them in a bucket. I do not use buckets to fill the tank as I have a python but I’m scared if there’s ich in the bucket it will transfer to the other tanks.

Can I use cold water and bleach to clean out buckets and then use boiling water to kill the bleach in the buckets? Or is this dangerous....

Someone please advise.

I also have a few plastic ornaments and stones which were in a bucket they came from another tank. But water from the ich tank may have come into contact. How can I clean it please

Emily x

 

The ich most likely died when the bucket dried. But to be safe, you can use bleach. Hot or cold water, doesn’t really matter. To neutralize the affects of bleach, I would use Prime or any water conditioner then rinse well with hot water multiple times.

 

To neutralize the affects of bleach, I would use or any then rinse well with hot water multiple times.

I go with a similar method. Seachem Safe is the powdered super-concentrated version of Prime (so it's a lot more cost effective for higher amounts). Anytime I bleach a tank or ornaments/equipment, I fill the tank or a spare 3 gallon bucket with warm tap water, add a pinch of Safe (1/8tsp will do it), and let it sit for 24 hrs. No concern about overdosing, since there are no fish involved. Rinse again with tap water, done. Takes a day, but hands-on time is minimal.

 

Let's not forget this is Emifish's thread. Only two replies were directed toward her issue
tanya9oceana questions and the replies have been moved to their thread here:
Disinfecting A Used 100l/27gallon Aquarium + Rusted Lighting


Here is Emifish's original post:

HI Guys,

As some of you know I have ich in one of my tanks. Only problem is that I have 3 other tanks which need cleaning. I usually have separate siphons for each but they have all got mixed up. This isn’t a problem as I’m just going to go and buy new ones.... the problem is the buckets....

I take all of my ornaments out of my tank to clean and put them in a bucket. I do not use buckets to fill the tank as I have a python but I’m scared if there’s ich in the bucket it will transfer to the other tanks.

Can I use cold water and bleach to clean out buckets and then use boiling water to kill the bleach in the buckets? Or is this dangerous....

Someone please advise.

I also have a few plastic ornaments and stones which were in a bucket they came from another tank. But water from the ich tank may have come into contact. How can I clean it please

Emily x

 

1. Ich can’t survive without a host. No host in the bucket. 2. Ich can’t live without water. If bucket is dry, no ich. No need to clean them.

 

Goldiemom is right but just to be safe I would still wash the buckets and ornament with some boiling water☺️