Will Bleach Disappear When It Evaporates?

Hi!

I am wondering if Bleach will completely evaporate when something with Bleach on it is left to dry for about 1-2 days?
What I mean is that you would wipe a tank with a 1:19 Bleach:Water solution and then do no rinsing and just let it dry over a period of 2-10 or more days.

Would it be safe for fish/aquariums and would the Bleach have gone completely?

Please only people that really know about this because they have done it or so, thanks!

 

No it won't. You need to rinse it. Bleach is a chemical suspended in water - the water will evaporate, the chemical stays as a solid.

 

No it won't. You need to rinse it. Bleach is a chemical suspended in water - the water will evaporate, the chemical stays as a solid.

Alright, thanks for the reply!

How much rinsing would be enough if I bring the tank to the shower? Are a few sprays with the hose enough or does it have to be more?

 

Rinse it out about four times, then once with 4x prime dose to bind the chlorine in bleach.

 

Rinse it out about four times, then once with 4x prime dose to bind the chlorine in bleach.

Hmmm, by rinsing out 4 times do you mean fill the tank up 4 times (emptying it in in between of course) or do you mean spray/wipe it clean for a while 4 times?
And then one dechlorinator bath?

 

Lay it outside & spray it for four minutes (sideways). Turn it up the right way, fill it & dose ~2x the regular dose of prime. 4x is for 1:9 bleach-water.

 

Ok, thanks. Will do. At least I now know how to properly use bleach

Thank you!

 

Bleach is just chlorine, but there is a residue, and of course anything left on the tank that has been sterilized will also physically be left behind. I have always wiped down a tank with straight regular unscented bleach, let it sit for 10 minutes as the bleach does need time to work, and then rinsed well with either the garden hose if outside or a few buckets of water splashed inside the tank if indoors in the shower. Bleach works best for sterilizing on clean surfaces, so the tank should be rinsed/scraped out prior to using it. If allowed to dry, it's safe to use when the chlorine smell dissipates. If in a hurry then overdosing Prime will speed things up.

Between fish and reptiles I have over four dozen tanks in the house, and some of those have been cleaned multiple times. Never had a problem.

I will say I recently switched to ammonia to clean tanks instead. It kills off a lot more nasties than bleach does which is good because I never know if a tank will end up as an aquarium or terrarium in this house, and it's easy to test for residue when it comes to the fish. It also suds up which allows for washing and sterilizing at the same time. However, it is really nasty to use and has to be done outside because the smell is overwhelming.

 

That was the clearest answer I have received so far on this search for answers!

Thanks a ton for your input, I was looking for something like that for a few days now

I have a question. Yesterday I had left the diluted bleach-solution on my 100L/27G aquarium (whole inside of it) and was planning to let it dry, but as time passed I freaked out and decided to add some pure Water Conditioner on a paper towel and wipe down the aquarium's inside with it. Do you think the bleach will be gone when it's extra dry?
It will be drying for around 20 days or more.

 

Bleach is just chlorine, but there is a residue, and of course anything left on the tank that has been sterilized will also physically be left behind. I have always wiped down a tank with straight regular unscented bleach, let it sit for 10 minutes as the bleach does need time to work, and then rinsed well with either the garden hose if outside or a few buckets of water splashed inside the tank if indoors in the shower. Bleach works best for sterilizing on clean surfaces, so the tank should be rinsed/scraped out prior to using it. If allowed to dry, it's safe to use when the chlorine smell dissipates. If in a hurry then overdosing Prime will speed things up.

Between fish and reptiles I have over four dozen tanks in the house, and some of those have been cleaned multiple times. Never had a problem.

I will say I recently switched to ammonia to clean tanks instead. It kills off a lot more nasties than bleach does which is good because I never know if a tank will end up as an aquarium or terrarium in this house, and it's easy to test for residue when it comes to the fish. It also suds up which allows for washing and sterilizing at the same time. However, it is really nasty to use and has to be done outside because the smell is overwhelming.

I'd just like to point out that bleach is not chlorine; it's a compound of chlorine, sodium & oxygen (NaOCl)

 

I have a question. Yesterday I had left the diluted bleach-solution on my 100L/27G aquarium (whole inside of it) and was planning to let it dry, but as time passed I freaked out and decided to add some pure Water Conditioner on a paper towel and wipe down the aquarium's inside with it. Do you think the bleach will be gone when it's extra dry?
It will be drying for around 20 days or more.

Did you rinse it? It really should be rinsed out well, wiping it won't remove all the residue. A tank that small can even be placed on its side on a counter overhanging a sink and rinsed out using cups of water or a sprayer hose if the sink has one. Just get some clean water in there to flush it!

It really only needs to dry overnight, at most. I don't know why you want to wait that long!

 

Did you rinse it? It really should be rinsed out well, wiping it won't remove all the residue. A tank that small can even be placed on its side on a counter overhanging a sink and rinsed out using cups of water or a sprayer hose if the sink has one. Just get some clean water in there to flush it!

It really only needs to dry overnight, at most. I don't know why you want to wait that long!

UPDATE: I have just (literally a few minutes ago) taken the whole aquarium to the shower and have tipped it on its side and then given it a REAL thorough rinse with the shower-hose. I have freaked out once more and I think that I will now be able to sleep at night without constant worry

But just to be sure: once this has dried the bleach residue will be gone?

The reason it'll dry for 20 days is because we are going on vacation xD ... I don't usually wait for things to dry for almost a month. But it'll be drying for 20 days either way this time

 

It should be fine, though I'd still try 2x dse prime to be safe.

 

It should be fine, though I'd still try 2x dse prime to be safe.

^ This!

 

Ok, thanks guys! Will do that. Then the aquarium is ready to go and I can't wait to get back into this fascinating hobby again as I have been back then.