How to neutralize clove oil?

[1L19]

I recently had to put a fish down and I used clove oil for the first time, which worked well. However, I now have a bucket, net and my 10 gallon quarantine tank and substrate (glass pebbles) contaminated. Wouldn't want to use them again with my main tank or other fish until I'm sure it's safe. Is there a way I can neutralize the oil so that it's not dangerous? I've soaked them all multiple times in hot water and dawn dish washing liquid but they still smell like clove oil. Yes it would have been better to take the fish out of the tank and put him in a small container. Lessons learned.

Any tips would be great and thank you!

 

[Rocky998]

I recently had to put a fish down and I used clove oil for the first time, which worked well. However, I now have a bucket, net and my 10 gallon quarantine tank and substrate (glass pebbles) contaminated. Wouldn't want to use them again with my main tank or other fish until I'm sure it's safe. Is there a way I can neutralize the oil so that it's not dangerous? I've soaked them all multiple times in hot water and dawn dish washing liquid but they still smell like clove oil. Yes it would have been better to take the fish out of the tank and put him in a small container. Lessons learned.

Any tips would be great and thank you!

Lots of vinegar rinsing maybe. Then just rinse with a lot if water as well. But I wouldn't use ANY now. You put it in dawn dish soap. It's not good at all for aquarium use... Soap residue is way harder to remove than clove oil I would say. So probably trash it all sadly
I wouldn't trust it personally. You can try to save it but, yah... I wouldnt
Also tip for the future, use a different container for euthanasia. This will prevent the worry of contamination and be easier to put the fish down probably. (I know you said it at the end but I'm just re-stating it)

 

[GaryE]

That is a mess... I always use a glass jar, and keep the oil far away from tanks and gear unless I never plan to use it again. Hot water, which usually removes oils, will crack a tank.

 

[1L19]

Lots of vinegar rinsing maybe. Then just rinse with a lot if water as well. But I wouldn't use ANY now. You put it in dawn dish soap. It's not good at all for aquarium use... Soap residue is way harder to remove than clove oil I would say. So probably trash it all sadly
I wouldn't trust it personally. You can try to save it but, yah... I wouldnt
Also tip for the future, use a different container for euthanasia. This will prevent the worry of contamination and be easier to put the fish down probably. (I know you said it at the end but I'm just re-stating it)

Not worried about the dish soap as that's water soluble and I can hit it with a bleach solution. It's the oil that's the worry and dish soap breaks down oil. I already pitched the net but I'm not gonna junk the tank unless I must. I'm going to try vinegar as you suggested and maybe even wipe it down with acetone. I'll have my buddy stick a batch of his oscar feeder fish for a week and we'll see how it goes. Thank you for the help sir.

 

[1L19]

That is a mess... I always use a glass jar, and keep the oil far away from tanks and gear unless I never plan to use it again. Hot water, which usually removes oils, will crack a tank.

Might as well hit it with the hot water as it's either going to be safe or going in the trash. Thank you GaryE.

 

[Uberhoust]

Removing oils usually requires a detergent of some sort. Polar molecules such as water tend to not clean nonpolar materials such as oil well, which is why we use soap or detergent. Hot water helps but as @GaryE states it can crack the glass. I personally would use something like Ivory Snow, or TSP to try and clean the oil out but then you have to rinse very well. Whatever you use is should not be scented or contain any softening compounds. You might also want to try rinsing with normal bleach, bleach used to be the standard to clean tanks.

You might have to consider that your plastic tools, bucket etc. are semi porous in regard to oil. It might be best to discard or use these items for less critical tasks. I don't know what effect clove oil will have on the silicone seals.

One possibility is to run the tank without fish for a bit and see if the smell goes away, the oil will be somewhat volatile and might disperse into the air with some warmth. Then again it might not.

Any glass item should be able to be totally cleaned of the oils.

 

[JuiceBox52]

Dawn dish soap (the Unscented one they use for oil spill animal rescues) and then a thorough rinse with vinegar and water

 

[Rocky998]

Dawn dish soap (the Unscented one they use for oil spill animal rescues) and then a thorough rinse with vinegar and water

I never trust any soap near my aquarium

 

[JuiceBox52]

I never trust any soap near my aquarium

Yes me either but it’s better than cracking the tank or having clove oil residue. Unscented Dawn soap is pretty safe

 

[Rocky998]

Yes me either but it’s better than cracking the tank or having clove oil residue. Unscented Dawn soap is pretty safe

Vinegar.... Lots of vinegar.
Or literally scrap the tank.
If I used any form of soap in my aquarium, I could never use that tank again lol. Unless I felt SUPER confident in how well I clean it... Then maybe.
The situation would have to be extreme for me to use soap
If it suds its a dud. That's my rule in the aquarium.
(Ik vinegar kinda suds but leave me alone)

 

[GaryE]

One thing to bear in mind is that is takes a lot of clove oil to euthanize a fish. In smaller concentrations, it's used as a sedative. It may be that in a well cleaned tank, it becomes an xmas scented thing for a while - an unbalanced pumpkin spice aquarium. You may be able to sell it for many times its price outside a coffee shop.

But it isn't a deadly poison in low concentrations. It wouldn't be healthy. but lower it as much as you can and it may be fine.

 

[lnsaneM]

I would guess water change or purigen