For Colin_T

[BettaFishGirl]

@Colin_T, will putting regular tap water in my empty 3g and 5g kill any parasites or harmful things to bettas?

 

[WhistlingBadger]

I'm no Colin T but I'll chime in. Do you mean that you're hoping to kill off parasites with the chlorine in tap water? I would try something stronger to make sure. Spray all surfaces in the empty tank with diluted bleach spray (about 3-4 teaspoons per quart/liter of room-temp water; the same stuff people use to sanitize their countertops). Let it dry, rinse the tank in water to which a double dose of dechlorinator has been added (to neutralize any remaining bleach residue), and you're good to go.

 

[BettaFishGirl]

I'm scared to use bleach because I worry my...me-ness would not rinse all the bleach off and anything I put on there would die. But, if I double dose of dechlorinater will make it disappear?

My tap water has chloramine in it, but if that's not strong enough to kill it I will use bleach I think.

 

[WhistlingBadger]

Well, you could use a triple dose of dechlor in the rinse water if it would make you feel better. Or use hydrogen peroxide, though I'm not sure if that will kill protozoal cysts.

 

[Colin_T]

If you use bleach in an aquarium, you can't leave it there for too long because it breaks down the silicon (glue that holds the glass together). Bleach can be wiped over the inside of the glass tank but should only be left for 5-15 minutes, then rinsed out well with tap water. When it no longer smells of bleach, fill the tank with water and leave it for 24 hours, then drain and refill it. Set it back up.

Granulated swimming pool chlorine is safer to use and does the same job. Take the tank outside and put it in the shade on a flat level surface. Fill it with tap water and add some pool chlorine (see directions on packet). Leave it for an hour or so and then drain and rinse the tank under tap water. When it no longer smells of chlorine, fill it with tap water and leave it overnight, then drain it and set it back up.

Liquid household bleach is sodium hypochlorite.
Granulated swimming pool chlorine is calcium hypochlorite

NB. If you use bleach, do it outside or in a well ventilated area.
Wear safety glasses, rubber gloves and if possible, a plastic apron and face shield so you don't get any on your skin. The apron and face shield aren't normally necessary but can be used for added safety.

NB. When bleaching an aquarium, monitor the silicon and if it starts to go white, wash the tank out with tap water immediately.

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You can also use white vinegar and soak the glass and items with that. Vinegar is an acid and won't affect the silicon. It's also a lot safer for people. You wipe everything down with vinegar and leave it for 24 hours, then rinse off with tap water. Leave it to dry for 24-48 hours and set it back up.

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Drying out an aquarium and accessories will also kill most things that live in water. Having the items outside in the sunlight for a few hours will also kill things.

NB. Be careful if you put the glass aquarium out in the sun because they can sometimes crack if they get really hot. This is more likely to occur if you have the tank sitting on the ground.

 

[BettaFishGirl]

If you use bleach in an aquarium, you can't leave it there for too long because it breaks down the silicon (glue that holds the glass together). Bleach can be wiped over the inside of the glass tank but should only be left for 5-15 minutes, then rinsed out well with tap water. When it no longer smells of bleach, fill the tank with water and leave it for 24 hours, then drain and refill it. Set it back up.

Granulated swimming pool chlorine is safer to use and does the same job. Take the tank outside and put it in the shade on a flat level surface. Fill it with tap water and add some pool chlorine (see directions on packet). Leave it for an hour or so and then drain and rinse the tank under tap water. When it no longer smells of chlorine, fill it with tap water and leave it overnight, then drain it and set it back up.

Liquid household bleach is sodium hypochlorite.
Granulated swimming pool chlorine is calcium hypochlorite

NB. If you use bleach, do it outside or in a well ventilated area.
Wear safety glasses, rubber gloves and if possible, a plastic apron and face shield so you don't get any on your skin. The apron and face shield aren't normally necessary but can be used for added safety.

NB. When bleaching an aquarium, monitor the silicon and if it starts to go white, wash the tank out with tap water immediately.

-------------------

You can also use white vinegar and soak the glass and items with that. Vinegar is an acid and won't affect the silicon. It's also a lot safer for people. You wipe everything down with vinegar and leave it for 24 hours, then rinse off with tap water. Leave it to dry for 24-48 hours and set it back up.

-------------------

Drying out an aquarium and accessories will also kill most things that live in water. Having the items outside in the sunlight for a few hours will also kill things.

NB. Be careful if you put the glass aquarium out in the sun because they can sometimes crack if they get really hot. This is more likely to occur if you have the tank sitting on the ground.

Thank you for the info. Luckily one of the tanks is plastic so I won't have to worry about anything breaking down.

I don't have access to swimming pool chlorine, only the chloramine in my tap water, which I presume is not strong enough?

I like the vinegar idea, it seems less risky.

Thank you!!

 

[Colin_T]

Chloramine in tap water will kill most things, especially if you fill the tank with tap water, let it stand for a few hours then drain and refill the tank. Do that a few times (an hour or two apart) and then drain it and let it dry for 24-48 hours. It will kill most things that live in water.

 

[BettaFishGirl]

Chloramine in tap water will kill most things, especially if you fill the tank with tap water, let it stand for a few hours then drain and refill the tank. Do that a few times (an hour or two apart) and then drain it and let it dry for 24-48 hours. It will kill most things that live in water.

Thank you. I will do that. And for the live plants I will keep them in tap water than scrub and rinse them with tap water, since I can't dry them out.

 

[Colin_T]

Don't scrub live plants because you damage them. Just stick them in a bucket of tap water and change it every hour like the tank.