How to clean a used aquarium and equipment?

leoslizards · #1 01/08/2008, 12:13 AM

What's the best way to clean a used aquarium that was used for FW creatures? I got a bunch of used tanks I would like to use as a sump, refug, etc... I also have a bunch of decorations and shells I would like to use also. They were used in a tank with a FW crayfish that passed away and I'm afraid of possibly spreading a disease or something. What about a tank that housed reptiles?

poppin_fresh · #2 01/08/2008, 12:18 AM

As long as the tanks were never treated with copper they should be fine. The easiest way to clean them is with regular white vinegar and water. You can boil the shells for a couple minutes to dissinfect them.

drillsar · #3 01/08/2008, 12:25 AM

You can use Bleach but just make sure its cleaned very well.

Mavrk · #4 01/08/2008, 01:09 AM

Vinegar and water will do wonders. You wouldn't believe the tanks I have seen before and after shots of using just that.

snorvich · #5 01/08/2008, 06:45 AM

I use vinegar for all my cleaning purposes: pumps, etc. You can get cheap generic vinegar at almost any supermarket. You don't need to get the good stuff either.

zedron · #6 01/08/2008, 07:58 AM

I will give another vote to vinegar and water.

dbuesking · #7 01/08/2008, 08:02 AM

I have cleaned many tanks with vinegar and water. Still have to scrub a bit.

AJ69 · #8 01/08/2008, 09:48 AM

water/vinegar

leoslizards · #9 01/08/2008, 10:12 AM

Ok cool.

Will apple cider vinegar work? I got a whole gallon of that stuff!

snorvich · #10 01/08/2008, 10:44 AM

Well, that question is a first. What is the PH? What you want is acetic acid (mild) so if apple cider vinegar works, go for it. By the way, I buy vinegar in bulk as it has so many cleaning uses in aquariums.

ArgonDreams · #11 01/08/2008, 10:53 AM

For disinfectant 1 cap of bleach per gallon of water. Make sure you wipe down all surfaces with the bleach mixture you want to disinfect. Make sure you throughly rinse any items that have been cleaned with bleach. I always follow up a bleach cleaning with a dechlorinated mix (Stress coat/Tap water conditioner etc).

For cleaning Salt Water based items I use pure vinegar and a stiff bristled brush. this will remove salt creep and and calcium build up. Let it soak a while first to loosen the material up. Throughly rinse anything you clean with vinegar as well. I do NOT follow up with a dechlorinated mix in this instance as it's relatively safe.

So... to recap:

To disinfect: 1 Cap Blach to 1 Gallon water. Rinse a LOT, Use a dechlorinator

To Clean: Pure Vinegar bath followed by scrubbing in water.

Brandon Cassidy · #12 01/08/2008, 01:49 PM

I vote with high confidence White Vinegar and HOT water.

leoslizards · #13 01/08/2008, 05:09 PM

What about aquarium gravel, rocks, and pebbles? Do I boil them also?

jjakes24 · #14 01/09/2008, 12:54 PM

I just cleaned 130lbs of old sand with a bleach/water solution. I flushed it out with tap and then did a soak of water/dechloronator mix and flushed that out and allowed it to fully dry and it turned out fine. I would think you can do the same with gravel, rocks and pebbles.

leoslizards · #15 01/11/2008, 07:24 PM

Well I cleaned it with a paper towel to get the dirt off, then I poured some white vinegar and scrubbed it a bit. Then I washed it out with the hose and now it's drying outside. That vinegar is some strong stuff. I still smell it on my hands as well as the tank. Is that bad? Is it also safe to use vinegar with FW tanks?