What is the best method to clean a used tank?

[Thinslis]

What is the best method to clean this?

Thanks!

 

[Dubbin1]

Soak it in vinegar and water.

 

[Thinslis]

After soaking should I be able to just wipe it down or will it still need some agressive rubbing / light scraping?

 

[lesages]

I used a razor blade scraper on my glass yesterday, made it quick and easy. I wouldn't recommend using one on acrylic though.

 

[reefnetworth]

bleach: 1 cup per gallon of total water volume. empty and rinse until bleach smell is completely gone. usually in a couple of minutes. vinegar is 5% acidic but it doesnt kill all bacteria such as bleach will.
JDM

 

[Sk8r]

If you use bleach, I'd use Prime to neutralize the bleach.
I tend to use vinegar if I trust the source: it specifically dissolves the 'lime' deposits---calcium carbonate---and gets rid of the caky nastiness; bleach is better at getting lingering organisms; both are good cleaners.

 

[Thinslis]

I think I'm going to try the vinigar water first. I'm not a big fan of bleach.

 

[kathainbowen]

Vinegar and a razor blade (if it's a glass tank- if not, Kent makes Pro Scapers that are acrylic safe, or you can find acrylic safe scrub pads from Aquarium Pharmaceuticals if you don't like the cost of Pro Scrapers), followed by a good water test to make sure that everything's in good order BEFORE you install and fill it up in your house!

 

[kevin2000]

Vinegar/Water ... or if your lazy you can take the tank outside and let it sit overnight in a mixture of water with a bit of muratic acid .. will disolve all of the crusty calcium deposits.

Bleach is good for cleaning/sterilizing .. but doesn't impact the calcium deposits.

 

[Thinslis]

Does Muratic acid effect plastic? Is it going to eat my overflows?

 

[Thinslis]

I got all the glass clean with the vingar water and a razor blade. However the plastic overflows are still coated with the coraline alge. My gut tells me to clean everything... should I use something more abrasive to clean the plastic?