Tank Cleaning...

[ChaseTheBetta]

I have a 2 gallon tank, and my betta that I had for a week just died. I need to sanitize the tank so my next betta doesn't catch anything. I've heard that bleach works well. What is the ratio of bleach to water that I should use?

Also, should I just buy a new air stone for the undergravel filter? Or can I clean that with bleach as well?

I'm thinking I'll just throw away the plants and buy new ones. They're silk plants and they've got a bit of algae on them. Or do you think the bleach would work on those as well?

Can I clean the heater with bleach too?

 

[shang hi]

chlorine based bleach is usualy used to sterilise (well what i hear it is) at about 20:1 (20 water:1bleach) but im not 100% on that one so cheak with other people.
that will do the tank for sure as long as you rince it out well and use plenty of dechlorinator with the 2nd-3rd rince to "kill" any remanding chlorrine.
Air stone is a no in my appinion and so are the plants, but letting your plants dryout for a week or two does the same job and a replacement. you can boil your airstone to kill pathogens.

and thats all im good for at the mo...

 

[ChaseTheBetta]

Ok. What about the gravel? Would bleach work for that, too?

 

[lovemyfraggies]

When I buy my tanks I always bleach them. It kills the germs and bacteria. What I do is get a spray bottle with 1/4 bleach and the rest water and spray the outside of it and the inside I fill it with water and pour some bleach in it and let it sit for a few hours. Then rinse it out really good. After wards let it sit overnight. It will be perfectly safe for the fish and you'll have a clean tank. I've never had any fish die. As far as the plants and gravel I would just replace them. Good Luck[/b]![/color]