Wjcastiglione Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Hey guys, I just purchased a tank off of someone on craiglist yesterday that is severely neglected. How do I go about cleaning this without any harmful chemicals that will hurt fish later? Here are some pictures: and the bio balls Link to comment
k4ndyk1ng Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Vinega and a razor blade Link to comment
Mathew18 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I have always used vinager and water mixture to clean tanks with no ill affects on future inhabitants. i would fill tank with water and vinager and turn pumps on and let everything run for 48 hours. this will break everything up and then just drain the tank and rinse everything out/off. Link to comment
Wjcastiglione Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 I have always used vinager and water mixture to clean tanks with no ill affects on future inhabitants. i would fill tank with water and vinager and turn pumps on and let everything run for 48 hours. this will break everything up and then just drain the tank and rinse everything out/off. Just tap water ok? Or should I use RO? and what proportions of vinegar/water? 1/10 vinegar? Link to comment
VAReefDog Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 +1 on vinegar and water and just let soak with powerhead for 1-2 days Straight tap water is fine- I used 1:5 water to white vinegar- but have seen 1:10 listed as ok as well. No need for RO. Can rinse in RO if want to be super cautious after but I think it is a waste of RO. Just let it air dry fully before use. Link to comment
Reefwiser Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 50% white vinegar and water mixture. The vinegar cuts thru the nasty bits. Link to comment
Mariaface Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Vinegar + water. After removing all the sand and bioballs and anything else that isn't equipment. You can also take a scraper to it while the mixture's running, even a magnetic one (since anything calcified will end up softened anyway). Link to comment
Gooburz Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Vinegar, hot water and let it soak for a few days with the pumps going. After just use some gold old elbow grease! Link to comment
seabass Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 I'd ditch the sand too. Link to comment
Wjcastiglione Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 I'd ditch the sand too. +1, get new sand. Sorry guys, should've mentioned! I plan to get rid of the sand too! lol Not a doubt in my mind the sands gotta go. Man did this guy neglect this tank. I asked them how often they changed the water "ohhh I don't know, every 30-40 days." just.. wow. Link to comment
Mariaface Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Sorry guys, should've mentioned! I plan to get rid of the sand too! lol Not a doubt in my mind the sands gotta go. Man did this guy neglect this tank. I asked them how often they changed the water "ohhh I don't know, every 30-40 days." just.. wow. Yehp, that sand needs to go. Good luck! Also, don't sniff it. Link to comment
Wjcastiglione Posted October 22, 2014 Author Share Posted October 22, 2014 Ok guys! sand is out! Tank is filled with 1/10 vinegar solution. I'll leave like this for a couple days and then come back and give it the scrub down. Link to comment
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