Restarting A Contaminated Tank Which Cleaning Agent To Use?

[malphonse]

I have a 55 gal tank. All the freshwater fish have died and I plan to start over. I’ve removed the fishes. Everything else is still in it: the water, the plants, rocks and driftwood (all artificial) and gravel.

I would like to use a cleaning agent in the existing water. I’m told that either bleach or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be used to disinfect and sanitize, but my concerns:

1. Using bleach:

• How much do I need? Is 1oz per gallon enough?
• Is this an acceptable plan: add bleach, run the filters for about 2 hrs then turn them off for about 1 hr?
• Which brand has a good dechlorinator?

2. Using hydrogen peroxide:

• What concentration should I get? I understand 35% H2O2 may be acceptable.
• What’s the ratio? For 35% H2O2, this seems to be 2oz per gallon.
• Do I need a UV light/sterilizer to speed up its breakdown to water? How long can that take?
• Where do I find H2O2 test strips?

Is there anything else I need to consider? Is there a better approach?

 

[black angel]

I dont know the answer but ive moved it here to see if anyone can help you

 

[pokagon55]

I have a 55 gal tank. All the freshwater fish have died and I plan to start over. I’ve removed the fishes. Everything else is still in it: the water, the plants, rocks and driftwood (all artificial) and gravel.

I would like to use a cleaning agent in the existing water. I’m told that either bleach or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) can be used to disinfect and sanitize, but my concerns:

1. Using bleach:

• How much do I need? Is 1oz per gallon enough?
• Is this an acceptable plan: add bleach, run the filters for about 2 hrs then turn them off for about 1 hr?
• Which brand has a good dechlorinator?

2. Using hydrogen peroxide:

• What concentration should I get? I understand 35% H2O2 may be acceptable.
• What’s the ratio? For 35% H2O2, this seems to be 2oz per gallon.
• Do I need a UV light/sterilizer to speed up its breakdown to water? How long can that take?
• Where do I find H2O2 test strips?

Is there anything else I need to consider? Is there a better approach?

What is the tank contaimated with? You had this in another forum and never replied. What kind of problem are/were you having?

 

[STRAWBERRY748]

NOT SURE IF YOU CAN USE MILTON FLUID. THIS IS USED TO STERALISE KIDDIES BOTTLES AND I USE IT ON ANY NEW ROCKS BEFORE I PUT THEM IN THE TANK- I AM SURE IF YOU FILL TANK WITH WATER AND ADD FLUID - LEAVE TO SOAK - THAT IT WILL KILL ALL YOU NEED AND IS FRIENDLY TO THE FISH. WHEN EMPTIED YOU WILL NEED TO FILL TANK A COUPLE OF TIMES AND REEMPTY IF YA GONNA KEEP EVERYTHING IN IT. - MILTON FLUID IS HARMLESS, BUT BEST TO FLUSH TANK A FEW TIMES AFTER SOAKING

HOPE THIS HELPS - SOMEONE ELSE OUT THERE MIGHT AGREE WITH ME - U NEVER KNOW

REGARDS

STRAWBERRY

 

[Imber]

I've used bleach at 1 part bleach to 19 parts water. More recently I bought some potassium permanganate which is supposedly better than bleach for cleaning. You can use it at much smaller concentrations just keep adding until the water stays purple(it turns brown when it comes into contact with organic matter). It will stain skin and clothing. I've also rubbed tanks down with isopropyl alcohol just to be sure after other sterilization methods. So far these have worked for me.

 

[ox5477]

I use bleach in my quarentine tank after I had a sick fish in it. Kills all the bacteria but you just have to make sure you wash it out like crazy after to remove all the residue so you won't hurt your next sick fish

 

[DYLANSDAD022102]

bleach is your best bet. just make sure you cannot smell any bleach when you redo your tank or your fish will more than likly die again. but what caused your fish to die? an uncycled filter? if thats the case just work on getting your filter cycled. if it was a virus or disease, try to identify what it wasn and that will make fixing the problem much easier

 

[pica_nuttalli]

although really, fishless cycling for 6 weeks or so should also do the trick. most nasty infectious things don't live for very long without a host and ammonia is a potent disinfectant. but you would probably want to give the filter a good cleaning first and replace all of the media.

however, another good thing about using chlorine bleach is that any excess can be removed using a hefty dose of dechlorinator.

 

[xoedusk]

however, another good thing about using chlorine bleach is that any excess can be removed using a hefty dose of dechlorinator.

Some how, my brain never connected bleach (which I know usually contains chlorine) to dechlorinators. Just thought I'd share my stupidness.

 

[Bignose]

although really, fishless cycling for 6 weeks or so should also do the trick. most nasty infectious things don't live for very long without a host and ammonia is a potent disinfectant. but you would probably want to give the filter a good cleaning first and replace all of the media.

however, another good thing about using chlorine bleach is that any excess can be removed using a hefty dose of dechlorinator.

This is all good advice. If the problem was fish-specific without fish in the tank, it will not survive. Take for example, ich: it is a fish-specific parasite, which means has to parasatize fish and only fish for its life cycle to continue. Ich's life cycle at tropical temperatures is 3-4 days, and contrary to popular myth there is no dormant phase. No fish? -- ich cannot survive. In ich's case and any other fish-specific disease, time is really the best weapon for cleaning out an infected and now-empty tank.

That said, bleach is good, too, and you can use large amounts of dechlorinator to take case of it, like PN said. Dechlorinator is pretty cheap, and it is almost impossible to use too much.