Cleaning/Preparing A Old Tank, Etc. (Complete Newbie)

[blesum]

Hi everybody,
I'm a teacher in Carlsbad, California (San Diego) that got a filthy, used 120 gallon glass tank from another teacher who lost interest in it. I'm a complete newbie and while I've been searching and reading here for the past two weeks, some of my most basic questions remain unanswered.
Is there anything I should do to it before I wash it down and start adding things to it? Ie, new silcone? Somebody mentioned in a thread about wishing he had drilled his tank before he added things to it. What does that mean? I'm guessing it's to mount something.
What is the best way to wash it? Is using Windex OK? Any chemicals or common mistakes I should be on the look-out for when I turn the students loose on it tomorrow?
The tank has what appears to be black trim on the top inch of the glass lip - it is peeling and cracking off in places. What is this for and should I be concerned? There is also a thin layer of silcone on the top part all around.
The tank is split up 70/30 with a glass barrier that is silconed up. I assume it's for quartine? It is ugly and I would like to remove it - I assume I can just use a razor blade to slice away the silcone and remove it?
The tank will be used for cool water local marine life. I am in the process of getting permits to collect local marine life in case anybody was going to jump on me for that. I was told by another teacher at my school that I would not need a cooler for my tank. The ocean water here ranges between 58-70 degrees year-around. My classroom ranges from 50-80. Typically 66-76 degrees. I'm a bit skeptical of his claims. He also said I would not need a protein skimmer with a good filter.

Now that one, I'm pretty sure he's wrong about.
We are also on a budget - Would I be able to use the rocks/reef (covered with growth) that I pull up when I go diving locally in place of ordered live rock or do I need to get the real thing? Same thing with sand?
-Blesum

 

[wax32]

Don't use any chemicals to clean the tank. VERY dilute bleach can be used but then you need to be sure to rinse, rinse and rinse some more till you can't smell bleach.
As far as the other stuff, no idea about cool water tanks.

 

[blesum]

The tank is dirty as hell - I can't imagine trying to clean it with just water and a little bit of bleach. But if that's the best way to go about doing it, then I will have it done that way Luckily, I'll have dozens of little slaves to do it for me tomorrow.

-Blesum

 

[wax32]

Don't use any scrubby sponges either it will scratch the glass, I learned that the hardway!

If anything get a algae pad from the fish store to "scrub" the tank.

 

[moat]

I just did a restoration on an old 90gal a buddy of mine gave me. There was some nasty white buildup all along the top and extending about 5inches down. I tried everything to remove it, white vinegar, 2% HCL solution, Oxi clean, the whole nine yards. Then I found RYDYT2 from Python products. If you lay the tank on its side and pour this stuff on undiluted it will eat everything off in a matter of minutes. It is aquarium safe and they offer two different kinds. One for new tank with no fish in it (stronger version and the one I used) and a weaker one for tanks with livestock.
hope this helps you.....
late
Rob
ps I think they were like 5 bucks a bottle or somthing.

 

[blesum]

Originally Posted by Moat
Then I found RYDYT2 from Python products.
ps I think they were like 5 bucks a bottle or somthing.

Is this something I can find at the local supermarket or do I need to go to the LFS? I'll check the supermarket on my way to the classroom this morning. Thanks for the tip.
Okay, no hard scrubbers - Paper towels from the school bathroom are free so that's the best option for the students anyways... :thinking:
-Blesum

 

[merredeth]

There is a green algae scrubber that you can get from your LFS for a couple of bucks.
Cut it in half for small hands and make two of your misbehaving kids do the work with only white vinegar and water. I have petite hands and all scrubbers I buy are automatically cut in half. Do NOT use one from the grocery store as they are treated with chemicals and if you don't rise well, you are asking for problems.
This is what I did with my used tank I found for a snowflake eel. I spent a couple of hours doing that and filling it with water outside and letting it sit in the sun to make sure the silicone wasn't leaking - it wasn't.
After rinsing the tank very, very well let it sit outside for a day if you used bleach already. I cannot stress the importance of rinsing well and letting it sit out in the sun if you already used diluted bleach.
Since this is a glass aquarium, using the algae scrubber works well and will not harm the aquarium. In abnormally rough spots, if you are careful and the aquarium is glass use a razor blade at a 45 degree angle and go only in one direction if an old credit card doesn't work first.
Hope this helps,
Denise M.