Cleaning suggestion after a bacterial infection

[OxfordBay]

Is there a sticky for how to clean up an aquarium after a bacterial infection? What do you recommend?

Background: 3 Anthias died in one week in a QT. Suspected disease was hemorrhagic septicemia.

 

[HumbleFish]

Is this a permanent QT or a temp one? I always clean my QTs & equipment out with vinegar, and then let air dry before using again. You can use bleach instead if you want to be absolutely sure, but be sure to rinse/air dry thoroughly afterwards.

 

[OxfordBay]

Thanks Humblefish for the suggestion. It's a permanent QT. Well, not so permanent now. Have to build it back up.

I would like to use vinegar, but wasn't sure if that will be sterile enough. I guess bleach is the way to go.

 

[GroktheCube]

I'd use bleach. 10:1 water:bleach should do the trick.

 

[MechEng99]

I use bleach between all fish...

I had the same thing a few months ago. I realized I forgot one piece of equipment in the bleach, and...maybe it was coincidence, but the next fish got it too. Bleach everything...

I'd also run a cheap fish through the QT just to make sure before putting a nice one in.

 

[alprazo]

This protocol for eradicating mycobacteria is from a public aquarium but has been modified a little.

Turn off UV, turn off filtration and remove animals from exhibit and drain tank.
​​all acrylic windows should be covered with plastic or foam for extra protection

Soak substrate with 99% isopropyl alcohol. Do not get it on any of the acrylic.

Let dry for 24 hours and removed plastic or foam covering.

Fill tank with freshwater and add bleach to at least 100 ppm. Turn on circulation
pump for 4 hours.

Add sodium thiosulfate crystals to tank, turn off pumps, drain tank.

Refill with freshwater and again add sodium thiosulfate crystals. Check water for
chlorine. When no chlorine is present turn all filtration back on to flush all lines with freshwater.

Allow freshwater to circulate for 20 minutes.

Drain and refill the system with saltwater.

 

[losthere]

I use bleach between all fish...

I had the same thing a few months ago. I realized I forgot one piece of equipment in the bleach, and...maybe it was coincidence, but the next fish got it too. Bleach everything...

I'd also run a cheap fish through the QT just to make sure before putting a nice one in.

Doesnt that defeat the purpose for sterilizing in the first place????
Cheap fish are just as likely to carry something that can be transferred.
If you use bleach make sure to use a de-chlor of some kind.
I would just leave it fallow for a month or two. Most bacterias, fungi, etc. need a food source. If you take the food source out it should die out.
You could also just fill it up with fresh water. Most marine disease cannot be transferred to freshwater.

 

[MechEng99]

Doesnt that defeat the purpose for sterilizing in the first place????
Cheap fish are just as likely to carry something that can be transferred.

I bleach after the cheap fish as well. :hmm2: If a cheap fish goes through with no problem, then I can at least have some peace of mind that I killed off the previous infection. Then...bleach again.