Deep Clean

[David J]

In the near future I am going to be doing a complete overhaul on my aquarium. The fish will be moved out to the QT with some plants and decor etc to keep them relatively happy for 24-48 hours while the big tank gets completely emptied of everything before starting again.

I've not completely decided on the scape but have lots of ideas and drawings etc of what I want to do. Whatever it ends up looking like, it will be high tech. CO2, specialist substrate, well though out planting etc.

So, my question is, once I've got the tank emptied should I do any kind of deep clean on it before starting the scape? I have what I would describe as a small BGA problem just now which I don't want present in the new set up. I expect the co2 will sort it but just wondering. And apart from the BGA, is there any merit to doing a deep clean ? The tank will have been running for a year and a half by the time I start this. I remember hearing about the biofilm that builds in the tank. Would I be damaging this? Would I end up with an immature tank?

Lots of questions. Sorry. What level of cleaning would recommend I do while the tank is empty?

Thanks,

David

 

[techen]

I wouldn't clean anything since a lot of the stuff will hold good bacteria to keep everything in check. You'll notice once you clean everything you may slide into a minicycle. Not worth it
 
For rescaping I'd just remove fish and go for it.

 

[David J]

Good advice. I have the urge to totally clean it because I want it to be as nice as possible but I won't do it. I'll do the same clean I usually do to weekly the glass and lights etc but will leave it at that. I heard that lots of bacteria live in the substrate which I am removing completely and replacing with new. That, along with a deep clean would probably be disastrous.