Cleaning copper from a used tank?

[Bluephish13]

I may be moving soon and i have a 75 gallon at my parents house. I want to clean and use this for the move, maybe until i can upgrade further.

It was always a Fw tank and i am sure that copper meds have been used at one time or another. Will cleaning with vinegar remove this for sure. I was thinking of laying it on each side for 10-15 min with a thin layer of vinegar poured on.

or is just wiping with vinegar and towel ok?


Will copper hold up in the silicone and slowly release?

should i use bleach instead?

Thanks

 

[jdoenumber2]

i wouldn't use that tank. if you do run some mineral remover to the point of it being over kill.... good luck

 

[superkat]

yikes....all those options...including using that tank....sound really scary....

 

[jfl14609]

personally I would clean it really well fill it then use a copper test kit if any is detectable then use some type of copper absorber. then even after the tank is set up run one of those pads that will absorb copper if it starts to leach. this is all depending on if its an expensive tank if its a tank you can buy new for under 100 bucks I would just get a new one not worth the risk imo

 

[Flanders]

I would ask in the chemistry and diy forums. I have heard that silicone's ability to hold and later release copper is a myth but I have no idea what the truth is.

 

[goldenseal]

wow, the 55 gal I have now was set up as freshwater 10 yrs before I converted it to salt 5 yrs ago. I never knew anything about copper at the time and never gave it a second thought....you just add salt....right????????????/ LOL

anyway, guess God protects the ignorant, Ive never had any trouble, in fact, I never had any idea that copper would stay in a tank.