Changing tanks

[freccle]

I’m about to move my moor and fantail to a larger tank. The one I’ve got is only a 10gal one so I've now got a 25 gal one, 2nd hand. Although the previous owner swears he’s had no disease in the tank, I’m not taking any chances, so I want to make sure it’s thoroughly disinfected. What is the best way to do this? And also, if I use bleach to clean it, where do I find a good dechlorinator bearing in mind I’m in the UK?

 

[wetwetwet]

I'd just use hot water and scub and use vinegar for stubborn water deposits....

If you do use bleach then rinse it really well several times......and then rinse it again lol

I'm not too sure what you mean buy also using bleach and a declorinator ....but if you after a recomendation for a tap water conditioner/dechlorinator then I use Stress Coat....


hth

 

[Alien Anna]

I'd soak it in baby bottle sterilising solution for a couple of days (that's actually weak hypochlorite) and then rinse it out in the garden with a hose. Finally, I'd fill it with water with double dechlorinator in it (hypochlorite will be broken down by dechlorinator).

A new nail brush is a very useful thing for scrubbing too.

 

[AquaNut]

One tsp of bleach in a gallon of water is a good disinfectant, if that's what you're wanting to do. Just make sure that you rinse it in clear running water for an exaggerated amount of time. Rinse it and rinse it, and when you think to yourself, Holy beans, I've been rinsing this for a long time, rinse it a little bit more. But as wetwetwet said, hot water and vinegar should suffice. Also, aquarium salt makes a great abrasive if there are deposits around the canopy or anything that needs a really good scrubbing.

 

[Inchworm]

Freccle, Please don't get carried away with the cleaning.

Using any chemicals to clean a tank is always a risk. I follow your thinking about using bleach and then delcorinator, (Bleach is chlorine, guys.) but I don't think it is a good idea since a tank that size is big enough to be hard to rinse. I've been told never to use bleach anywhere near my aquariums, but I do use it to clean filter boxes and other small, easily handled items. These I rinse very well, let air dry and then rinse very well again.

And I would avoid using vinegar on the inside of the tank, too. It could affect the ph of the water since it is acidic. What I use to clean tanks is ordinary uniodized table salt. It is a mild abrasive and unless you really have reason to believe that the tank is infected, it will suffice. If there is a bit of salt residue left after rinsing, at least it will do no harm to the fish.

But, right now, before you do anything else, start thinking about cycling the tank. I suggest you get your gravel, wash some of it, and put a bit in your small tank so that it will get coated with the good bacteria. Ditto any plants you plan to put in. Since you already have a good tank going you can make the transition easily with just a little advance preparation.

Good luck! Your fish will be so happy!!!