How To Thoroughly Clean New (used) Aquarium?

[4077girl]

Hello,

I'm not completely new to having an aquarium (I've had my 10 gallon since July), but this one is new so I thought this was the best place to ask.

My friend gave me a 15 (I think? It's around 24" x 12" x 13"ish?) gallon tank and I'm thinking I could replace my 10 gallon with that so my fish have more room. She used it for hermit crabs. There is a heat pad stuck to one side (outside) and it's REALLY gunky and stuck on. She also used petroleum jelly all around the top to kind of seal the lid on because ants were attracted to the hermit crabs food and she used that to keep them out of the tank. So I hosed it our really well outside just to make sure it held water, and then realized the petroleum jelly went EVERYWHERE inside and out. It obviously doesn't rinse off well because it isn't water soluble so now I'm not sure how to get it off. I know soap or any other detergent that would help get rid of greasy oil is a no-no. Is this a lost cause? I'd also planned to basically transfer everything (water, substrate, plants, rocks, filters, fish) to the new tank so I don't have to start the cycle from scratch, but now I'm more concerned that the fish would be killed by either not getting all the petroleum jelly out, or whatever I have to use to clean it. I don't have a place to have them both running at the same time.

Any ideas?

 

[mattgirl]

I wouldn't have a problem using Dawn dish soap to clean this tank. You just have to make sure you rinse it really really well. It would be best if you could do it outside and could use a water hose.

If I were doing it I would fill it up with fairly warm water. Add some Dawn and scrub it well. Dip most of the water out and then turn the tank on its side on a level surface and use the hose to rinse it out. You should be able to get all of the soap out this way.

 

[TheBettaSushi]

Hello,

I'm not completely new to having an aquarium (I've had my 10 gallon since July), but this one is new so I thought this was the best place to ask.

My friend gave me a 15 (I think? It's around 24" x 12" x 13"ish?) gallon tank and I'm thinking I could replace my 10 gallon with that so my fish have more room. She used it for hermit crabs. There is a heat pad stuck to one side (outside) and it's REALLY gunky and stuck on. She also used petroleum jelly all around the top to kind of seal the lid on because ants were attracted to the hermit crabs food and she used that to keep them out of the tank. So I hosed it our really well outside just to make sure it held water, and then realized the petroleum jelly went EVERYWHERE inside and out. It obviously doesn't rinse off well because it isn't water soluble so now I'm not sure how to get it off. I know soap or any other detergent that would help get rid of greasy oil is a no-no. Is this a lost cause? I'd also planned to basically transfer everything (water, substrate, plants, rocks, filters, fish) to the new tank so I don't have to start the cycle from scratch, but now I'm more concerned that the fish would be killed by either not getting all the petroleum jelly out, or whatever I have to use to clean it. I don't have a place to have them both running at the same time.

Any ideas?

You can use hot water and distilled white vinegar to try and get it out. However, I used a water/bleach solution to clean out my old tank so that I can reuse it and house a betta (which he is currently thriving in). I only used bleach because my previous betta died of a tumor so I wanted to be extra safe and kill whatever was still lingering in the tank (if anything).

With bleach, you have to be careful... I used 1 cup bleach to 10 cups water and I continually rinse out, let it air dry (under the sun) and repeated the process for a couple of days to be on the safe side. I rinsed/dried for about 4 days before restarting the tank and going through the cycling process.

 

[4077girl]

I wouldn't have a problem using Dawn dish soap to clean this tank. You just have to make sure you rinse it really really well. It would be best if you could do it outside and could use a water hose.

If I were doing it I would fill it up with fairly warm water. Add some Dawn and scrub it well. Dip most of the water out and then turn the tank on its side on a level surface and use the hose to rinse it out. You should be able to get all of the soap out this way.

My biggest concern with this is there is a lip around the top that makes it really hard to rise really well.

 

[Ronniethewitch]

can you get your hands on a steam cleaner? I used it on mine after a callamanus scare and broke the tank down. Introduce the steam carefully - obviously because glass breaks with extreme temp changes - but once you're in there it serves both to clean and to sanitize without chemicals. Everything just wipes away!

 

[mattgirl]

My biggest concern with this is there is a lip around the top that makes it really hard to rise really well.

That is one of the main reasons I suggested doing it outside and rinsing with a water hose. That way you should be able to rinse all of the soap out of it. I do understand your concern though. I just know I wouldn't have a problem doing it the way I suggested. It is really the only way I could think of to get all of the petroleum jelly out of there.

I guess it is possible than vinegar could cut through it but I don't think bleach would work in this case. Bleach is good for a lot of things, specially for sterilizing but I don't think it would remove the PJ.

 

[david1978]

Bath tub and dawn. That way you can have hot water and can turn the tank in the water so its submerged. Then just rinse.

 

[TheBettaSushi]

That is one of the main reasons I suggested doing it outside and rinsing with a water hose. That way you should be able to rinse all of the soap out of it. I do understand your concern though. I just know I wouldn't have a problem doing it the way I suggested. It is really the only way I could think of to get all of the petroleum jelly out of there.

I guess it is possible than vinegar could cut through it but I don't think bleach would work in this case. Bleach is good for a lot of things, specially for sterilizing but I don't think it would remove the PJ.

Rubbing alcohol may work to break down the petroleum.

The only problem with soap is that it may leach into the crevices of the underside of the lip. This is why I suggested bleach. As long as bleach or rubbing alcohol is air dried in the sun, it will kill the bleach/alcohol. It has to be continuously rinsed and dried though just to make sure it’s all gone.

 

[guppgirl]

Honestly, if you hose down a ton, you should be able to use dawn soap to clean it. Vinegar or rubbing alcohol may also work, but it'd take more effort.

 

[david1978]

Most dish detergents as well as those made for a dish washer are safe if rinsed. That's why we don't get sick after drinking from a washed cup or a washed plate. Even on dawns site they only recommend drinking water to dilute it if you drink a small amount of it.

 

[4077girl]

I scrubbed it clean and rinsed it like crazy with the hose. Filled as much as I could with siphoned water from my 10 gal, transfered all rocks, plants, 2 filters, filled the rest of the way with prime treated tap water and put my fish and snail in. So far everybody looks happy. Only time will tell, I guess! I may upgrade the filter later on, but wanted to keep everything the same in hopes of avoiding any ammonia spike since I have 9 Endlers and a mystery snail.

 

[Do0kski]

What I would do is bleach, scrub, and reseal it. It's work but it'll offer the best outcome. Use acetone and a razor to take the adhesive from the heating pad off.

Also, use any chemical you like including soap. Just rinse and dry it a few times. It'll be fine really. Just make sure if you don't seal it the chemical won't have a reaction with the silicone