Used Tank

[h_ceri]

I will be picking up a used tank at the end of the weak, recently emptied by the current owner. It is a rio 240 and I was wondering what would be the best way to clean it for use?

The only thing I have planned so far is to buy some new filter media for the internal to run along with my tetratec ex1200 external - but as for cleaning etc? And i'm pretty sure I'll be buying new substrate aswel.

Any tips or hints? Thanks!

C

 

[evilchild]

hot water. some people use salt to clean any thing off but got to make sure it's washed out very well. try to advoid any chemicles to play safe, imo. should be a nice tank once it up and running

 

[raptorrex]

I will be picking up a used tank at the end of the weak, recently emptied by the current owner. It is a rio 240 and I was wondering what would be the best way to clean it for use?

The only thing I have planned so far is to buy some new filter media for the internal to run along with my tetratec ex1200 external - but as for cleaning etc? And i'm pretty sure I'll be buying new substrate aswel.

Any tips or hints? Thanks!

C

i would use bleach and rinse the tank well. with a tank not being used for some time, its better to be safe than sorry. and if you do the job right, there will be no trace left when you fill the tank.

 

[h_ceri]

a bit of bleach and scrubbing, with thorough rinsing with hot water then? and then new substrate/filter media etc? is it worth replacing any of the equiptment to be on the safe side? any bulbs etc? or just clean and run it asap?

 

[Inchworm]

Hi h_ceri

I've bought many of my tanks used and had no problem with them. To clean the white hard water marks off them, just pour on a little white vinegar and rub with a plastic scrubber pad. If the deposits are thick, you might have to let it soak for a while before scrubbing. Rinse well because vinegar residue can effect the pH of the water once you set up the tank.

I'd just toss the substrate and buy new. Playsand from a Home Depot or similar store is very inexpensive and works very well. Unless the tank is presently up and running and stocked with fish, toss the filter media too. If is is in use, it would probably be worth trying to save the live bacteria in it.

 

[h_ceri]

I will be moving over my ex1200 from my current tank as the main mode of filtration, but I figured buying some new sponges for the juwel internal would be worthwhile, as it would give me ~10x turnover.

The substrate I was planning on binning aswel, but I'm not sure what to do with this tank - my current one has coral sand but i'm not really a fan - I was thinking maybe of the black sand, although I'm not sure what it is called.

 

[raptorrex]

Hi h_ceri

I've bought many of my tanks used and had no problem with them. To clean the white hard water marks off them, just pour on a little white vinegar and rub with a plastic scrubber pad. If the deposits are thick, you might have to let it soak for a while before scrubbing. Rinse well because vinegar residue can effect the pH of the water once you set up the tank.

I'd just toss the substrate and buy new. Playsand from a Home Depot or similar store is very inexpensive and works very well. Unless the tank is presently up and running and stocked with fish, toss the filter media too. If is is in use, it would probably be worth trying to save the live bacteria in it.

i will say that i tend to place a bag with the old filter media and a portion of the gravel, in an old stocking, and pop them in the tank, i have no idea how long to leave them in there, so i tend to leave it about two weeks.

Viniger and newspaper makes a lovly job of cleaning and polishing you glass too.

 

[ktricky]

well as i was cycling mine any way i used ammonia to clean mine as it is used the same way as bleach so i didnt use any chemicals that i wouldnt normally use when cycling found it not so much of a worry when i did so

 

[Luketendo]

I sterilised my tank using baby bottle sterilisers, I overdosed like 5x over. Then I added water with 5x or more dose of dechlor, I then emptied and but 1x dechlor in, I emptied again with normal dose, cycled with a few fish and no deaths at all.

It'd 10g and houses 7 black phantoms and 6 black neons (and 2 angelfish which are there temporarily.)

 

[h_ceri]

Cheers for the tips everyone.
Im picking the tank up tomorrow evening, but can't get on with it for a couple of weeks as I have final year exams throughout january

I'm sure I'll be looking for advice when the time for cleaning does come though!

C