How do you clean test tubes

[heatherpooreks]

I am wondering how everyone cleans test tubes? I am thinking I have residual in my tube. I am wondering if something is actually happening with my tanks or if after a 50% water change there are major issues.

 

[FishGuest5123]

I just rinse mine with tap water and let them air dry. I have bleached them before when fish had ich. I rinsed them well afterwards and dipped them in Prime and water.

 

[Metalhead88]

Yep, rinse and dry.

 

[Koglin]

I usually rinse with hot water really well and dry. I agree with @Deanasue for deep cleaning a test tube though. I have done with a floating plastic fry box as well.

I'll soak in a 50/50 bleach/water mix for maybe 5 minutes, then rinse off with hot water, then soak in water for a bit, then rinse that off and soak/rinse with water 1 or 2 more times before letting air dry. After it dries - sniff the test tube and make sure you smell no bleach, while inspecting it for any powdery residue. Can dip into a prime/water mix too if you'd like and let it dry again.

Make sure to just use straight up bleach too - a lot of bleach on the market now has added scents & soaps, these will leave a powdery like residue after drying if still present and is likely harmful to your fish.

I accidently cleaned something with a scented bleach mix couple weeks ago, took soaking in vinegar a couple times and rinsing with hot water/drying multiple times a day for a few days straight before there was no more powder residue and it had no smell. Then I soaked it in a 50/50 prime/water mix and let air dry.

Even now I haven't used it again though cause it worries me.. =\

 

[kwi]

Rinse a minimum of 3 times. Air dry.

 

[Jan Cavalieri]

No need for bleach or anything that severe. Just rinse about 5 times (including the caps, let air dry and reassemble. When I worked in a lab we also did a final rinse with distilled water but that's overkill for these test tubes.

 

[Ch4rlie]

Yep, nothing fancy, just simply rinse well under the taps and don’t forget to rinse the cap lids too.

Air dry is easiest and best method.

Been cleaning my test tube this way for years, only annoying thing is I’ve dropped the tubes before in the steel sink and broken some of these glass tubes which is very thin glass. When that happens it kinda irks me but oh well, moral is, be careful

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

If you want you can get a little pipe cleaner which will fit inside and you can give it a little scrub. But 3 rinses with fresh water should be sufficient to get rid of anything.

 

[mcordelia]

I was also going to suggest pipe cleaners, or if you want to buy a dedicated product that will fit the bill you can search any big box store for "baby bottle nipple brush". These are smaller than regular bottle brushes and should help you be able to clean out any visible or invisible biofilms etc that may have accumulated in your tubes

 

[Koglin]

If you want you can get a little pipe cleaner which will fit inside and you can give it a little scrub. But 3 rinses with fresh water should be sufficient to get rid of anything.

I was also going to suggest pipe cleaners, or if you want to buy a dedicated product that will fit the bill you can search any big box store for "baby bottle nipple brush". These are smaller than regular bottle brushes and should help you be able to clean out any visible or invisible biofilms etc that may have accumulated in your tubes

Oh that's a good idea about the pipe cleaners. Be wary of the cheap ones meant for crafts though I imagine, wouldnt want a bunch of fibers getting stuck in the bottom edges. Nice quality pipe cleaners are pretty cheap.

I have a bottle brush too, never crossed my mind to use it -.-'

Good ideas though.

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

Oh that's a good idea about the pipe cleaners. Be wary of the cheap ones meant for crafts though I imagine, wouldnt want a bunch of fibers getting stuck in the bottom edges. Nice quality pipe cleaners are pretty cheap.

I have a bottle brush too, never crossed my mind to use it -.-'

Good ideas though.

Just to clarify I meant these https://www.busybeetools.com/products/3-pc-steel-tube-brush-set.html

Not the craft ones

 

[heatherpooreks]

Thanks everyone

 

[Essjay]

I fill with water and empty 3 times, then half fill with water, shake and empty 4 times. No idea why I do it for these numbers of times it just seemed to happen. I hold the lids upside down under running water. Then I let them drain and dry them with a paper tissue/hanky - the things you blow your nose on when you have a cold. One tissue will dry two tubes and lids.

Wash them as soon as you've read the colour. Nitrite in particular leaves a deposit on the glass if it's left to stand. I discovered this when I once left the tubes for an hour - even after all the rinsing, there was a deposit on the tissue.