cleaning tank question

[anthonys51]

just got a free 300 tank. tank was really dirty and smells. i cleaned it the best i could last night with a rag and water. just a question. tank still has a little smell coming from it. tank will be empty and probably not set up for 6 months at least. just too good of a deal to pass up. can i use bleach with a rag to wipe down the tank. i am not going to use the tank for months, and it might even be a freshwater tank when i set it up. not really sure what i am going to put in it

 

[fishgate]

Vinegar!

 

[tzylak]

Vinegar and bleach are most effective. Wash, rinse and dry out for a day or two and you are good to go.

 

[iteched]

Might not be a bad idea to fill in the garage - watch for leaks....

Like others said vinegar / bleach work very well.

 

[Sk8r]

Vinegar is safe. Be sure to rinse bleach quite well. Vinegar run overnight in pumps, and white-crusted tanks, can clean them like new. It dissolves calcium carbonate, the white stuff.

 

[anthonys51]

ok. the tank had water in it when i picked it up. i drained it and gave the fish to local fish store. man this tank had so much crude and algae i couldn't even see his 18 inch puffer.

 

[Sk8r]

Poor thing.

 

[anthonys51]

no one wanted the puffer. my 3 stores said it was too mean of a fish. i walked in a store and left it on the counter. i know bad, but i had no home for it

 

[nuxx]

That sucks

As for the tank like other's said.

Clean with bleach first, then vinegar, then water.

Normally I'd let a powerhead run in the tank with water and bleach. Then empty and clean out really well.

Then fill up the tank with water and vinegar and let the powerhead run again. Also I add a little bit of prime as well.

Then clean out really well with water and let air dry.

 

[anthonys51]

oh no sorry guys i am not filling the tank up. going to leave it dry for a while. just want to kill the smell a little. so was going to wipe down with a bleach solution and let air dry for 6 months. wondering if after that would i need to rinse the tank or will the bleach be dead/gone after 6 months with it dry

 

[nuxx]

oh no sorry guys i am not filling the tank up. going to leave it dry for a while. just want to kill the smell a little. so was going to wipe down with a bleach solution and let air dry for 6 months. wondering if after that would i need to rinse the tank or will the bleach be dead/gone after 6 months with it dry

Doesn't hurt to rinse it out. Wouldn't even chance it after 6 months.

 

[hotelbravo]

if these suggestions do not work and your new tank is to dirty for those methods I would go to home depot and buy muriatic acid which is hydrochloric acid. and fill with water allowing room for the 2 gallons of acid. let it sit for a day or two preferably outside due to fumes. the acid wont harm the silicon or the glass (not sure about acrylic but I believe its safe on it aswell). once your ready to empty the acid use baking soda to neutralize the acid. you can buy giant 8lb bags of it at a local food store.

 

[anthonys51]

thanks, ill try the bleach and take it from there.

 

[nuxx]

thanks, ill try the bleach and take it from there.

:beer:

 

[anthonys51]

someone told me if a tank sits dry, you can risk the seems drying out and making the tank weaker is that true. i have used smaller tanks that sat dry before, but never a 300 gallon

 

[nuxx]

someone told me if a tank sits dry, you can risk the seems drying out and making the tank weaker is that true. i have used smaller tanks that sat dry before, but never a 300 gallon

Never really heard of that, but who knows.

Not a glass expert here

Our 150 Gallon Starphire Frag tank has sat empty for about 3-4 months now.

 

[anthonys51]

didnt make sense to me either, but not a silicone and glass expert too

 

[tzylak]

Not "letting it stand empty and dry" clause is valid for pools and its plaster. -Not valid for glass, acrylic or silicone glue.

 

[Shawn O]

Heard silicone will break down, or something, if left dry and in direct sunlight. I've had an empty 55 sitting on my balcony in full sun for a few months. It's an older tank so it may not be a very scientific experiment but I'll fill it up with water in a week or two and let it sit for a week to check for leaks.

 

[homer1475]

Tanks sit in warehouses for month, sometimes years before they get sold(petco 1$ sale).They never break at the seams, silicone is always good. Why would one that was wet then dried be any different?