Tank Preperation.

[irvs]

The tank im going to convert from tropical to marine i know will need a major clean (including filter), what methods are there in doing a thorough job???
Im also unsure if any medications or additives would of contained copper how can i be totaly sure ive dealt with this also???

thanks neil.

 

[FiSh123FiSh]

I've always used warm salty water. It has no dangerous chemicals and does a good job. You can also buy aquarium safe cleaners from your LFS.

EDIT: I would use a soft sponge as you dont want to scratch the glass and use maybe something coarser for the "unseeable" bits. IMO I would use a new filter for a new marine tank as the bacteria are different and it gives you a good clean start.

 

[nick87]

Vinegar, great stuff for cleaning tanks and filters.

 

[seffieuk]

Vinegar, great stuff for cleaning tanks and filters.

Agree, miracle cleaner. However the copper is a problem, it gets into seals etc and leaches out

Seffie x

 

[Morri]

Vinegar for sure warm water as for copper if you are unsure if it has been added and you dont want to remove all the silicon just in case fill the tank with RO water let it stand for a week

Purchase a Salifert test kit and test for copper even the slightest sign of copper means no inverts

but you can still use for Fish

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Vinegar for sure warm water as for copper if you are unsure if it has been added and you dont want to remove all the silicon just in case fill the tank with RO water let it stand for a week

Purchase a Salifert test kit and test for copper even the slightest sign of copper means no inverts

but you can still use for Fish

Agreed with Morri. Filling with RO will probably draw out any copper that is in the silicone. Use a test kit to make sure though.

 

[irvs]

Hi thanks for the info, the only medications/additives ive ever used in the tank have been:
-Interpet No.9 (anti internal bacteria)
-API melafix
-TPN+

Would anyone have any idea if these products contained a copper additive. I dont want to rule out any inverts.

thanks neil.

 

[xxBarneyxx]

Hi thanks for the info, the only medications/additives ive ever used in the tank have been:
-Interpet No.9 (anti internal bacteria)
-API melafix
-TPN+

Would anyone have any idea if these products contained a copper additive. I dont want to rule out any inverts.

thanks neil.

Not sure on Interpet No9 but I "think" that its just an antibiotic, same for Melafix. TPN+ has a whole bunch of trace elements in but would assume it doesn't have copper as this is not a trace element that is required by plants.

Double check but I'm pretty sure they are all fine. In all honesty I have used an old FW tank that had copper meds and all sorts of plant ferts used in it and never had any issues (I did soak it in RO first though and it hadn't had copper used in it for a good few years).

 

[seffieuk]

I think they are based on Treetree oil not Copper

Seffie x

 

[irvs]

thanks loads for the info, now more research to do.

thanks neil

 

[Anna Robinson]

Definitely no copper in Melafix.