How long should this tank stay empty?

[BlueRaccoon]

I lost a fish that may have been sick. How long should I let the tank sit empty to prevent the spread of illness? Thanks

 

[Aqua67]

I suppose it depends on what you think may have caused the demise of your fish. Some problems go through life cycle stages, some problems are due to bad water conditions, etc.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

I suppose it depends on what you think may have caused the demise of your fish. Some problems go through life cycle stages, some problems are due to bad water conditions, etc.

So honestly, I think the fish didn't acclimate well. I don't actually think it was sick, I'm just being very cautious.

 

[cjcummings]

You can go buy some 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore. It's around 3-4 dollars i think. Fill the tank with water. Add some hydrogen peroxide in there and let it soak overnight or 24 hrs. If you want to disinfect your filter and don't care about losing any good bacteria, you can have it run in it as well. After 24 hours... Refill it again with just water and let that run for another 24 hours. Then empty the tank and you are good to go from there.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

You can go buy some 3% hydrogen peroxide from the drugstore. It's around 3-4 dollars i think. Fill the tank with water. Add some hydrogen peroxide in there and let it soak overnight or 24 hrs. If you want to disinfect your filter and don't care about losing any good bacteria, you can have it run in it as well. After 24 hours... Refill it again with just water and let that run for another 24 hours. Then empty the tank and you are good to go from there.

Thank you! What about the plants? I have live plants. Can I just use a bleach water solution to disinfectant them?

 

[cjcummings]

Thank you! What about the plants? I have live plants. Can I just use a bleach water solution to disinfectant them?

Funny u mention that as I was just watching this

yesterday (also involved H2O2. Yes you can use bleach also but I tend not to suggest bleach to beginners since you really need to be mindful that all the bleach is gone. If you set on using bleach to sterilize your plants you can watch this

 

[JustAFishServant]

BlueRaccoon - hey, butting in here. Just know that hydrogen peroxide probably won't work. As soon as it hits water, or is left out for 24 hours, it oxidizes to dihydrogen monoxide; water. So, you'd add water to try and treat water...It's antibacterial for a minute or two when added, but oxidizes to water soon after.

 

[MacZ]

You don't need any chemicals.

If the fish had problems acclimating it was probably nothing that can be killed off with any disinfectant.
If it was bacterial it was very likely an omnipresent opportunistic bacterium. Means: They are always there, usually harmless and when a fish has its immune defense down they strike. You can't get rid of them.
If it was a parasite: 2-3 weeks without fish in the tank and all parasites should be done for. No host no parasite.

So keep the chemicals in the broom closet. Not necessary at all. Many people immediately have the urge to kill and disinfect everything to the max. Nonesense I say!

 

[cjcummings]

I think the question that it boils down to is whether the OP is willing to wait or wants to get the tank up and running as soon as possible. Then he can make an informed decision from there on how he wants to go about it.

 

[MacZ]

Luckily patience is a vital trait for an aquarist.

 

[cjcummings]

Luckily patience is a vital trait for an aquarist.

Having $$$ helps a lot too. Learned a while ago this hobby can get expensive...MTS is REAL

 

[MacZ]

Not really. With experience costs go down again considerably.

 

[BlueRaccoon]

Thanks everyone for the help! And yes, patience is extremely important in this hobby. Without patience, something is going to to wrong.