Cleaning used tank

Just soak it in vinager overnight. Scrub it out then rinse. No need to bleach it. You can but really not needed.

Why the bleach mix soak? I would worry that the bleach was more harmful than anything left behind by the saltwater.

Bleach dissipates over night so it is safe to use. I've used it on ornaments and as long as you rinse and let set for 24 hours its fine.

 

Just soak it in vinager overnight. Scrub it out then rinse. No need to bleach it. You can but really not needed.



Bleach dissipates over night so it is safe to use. I've used it on ornaments and as long as you rinse and let set for 24 hours its fine.

I did it because I wasn't sure what had all been kept in there and figured better safe than sorry. But like said above you don't have to.

 

I always use regular (not splashless) bleach and water to clean used tanks. 1 part bleach to 10 parts water. Rinse really well and let sit to dry. If it still smells like bleach, rinse it again and let it gas off. Completely safe to use and I trust it more than any other method. I bleach absolutely everything.

 

So, a couple weeks ago, I purchased a used tank for a great deal. I don’t know what fish it used to hold or anything like that. I’m not sure if I should do any special cleaning for it or if it’s fine with just a wet wash cloth. Since it’s been full of untreated water (I was testing for leaks) in my garage for a while, would any diseases or parasites be gone by now? If not, how should I clean it to make sure it’s safe for my fish? Thanks!

 

Wipe the sides and bottom down with vinegar (which also helps with hard water stains, if there are any), then rinse with water, and it should be fine.

 

Wipe the sides and bottom down with vinegar (which also helps with hard water stains, if there are any), then rinse with water, and it should be fine.

Out of curiosity, would hydrogen peroxide work?
I know it kills BBA, but I wonder if it would kill parasites etc

 

Out of curiosity, would hydrogen peroxide work?
I know it kills BBA, but I wonder if it would kill parasites etc

I don't know.

 

Wipe the sides and bottom down with vinegar (which also helps with hard water stains, if there are any), then rinse with water, and it should be fine.

Ok! You don’t think I need to use bleach or anything like that? Just making sure! Thanks!

 

Vinegar is a pretty powerful cleaning tool. I have asthma and can't use bleach, the chemicals make it hard to breath. So I use Distilled White Vinegar and water mixture to clean stuff. If you feel like you need bleach then go for it.

Which ever you use, make sure you rinse out the tank good before using it.

 

Vinegar is a pretty powerful cleaning tool. I have asthma and can't use bleach, the chemicals make it hard to breath. So I use Distilled White Vinegar and water mixture to clean stuff. If you feel like you need bleach then go for it.

Which ever you use, make sure you rinse out the tank good before using it.

Ok thanks! I’ll stick with using vinegar then!

 

You also could clean it with ammonia.
As you will need to do a (hopefully fishless) cycle, even if a bit stays on the walls, it is of no consequence. It will just make your eyes water