Cleaning Used Tank and supplies

[clintain]

I just bought a used 12 gallon Nano. It came with 20 lbs of sand, the filter media, pumps, lights,etc...My question right now just concerns cleaning it. How would you go about it? I've read that washing the sand in bleach then rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse, rinse...? And what about the different filter media. In the first chamber there were 3 foam blocks and what looks like a small sack of live rock rubble or crushed coral, in the second chamber there was a sack of carbon pieces, a sack of small plastic tubes or some sort, 7 black pieces of plastic kinda shaped like a star, and what looks like a woman's panty hose with some sand knotted in it, and the third chamber had another sack of what looks like more rock rubble or crushed coral and the return pump. Could I put some bleach water in the tank and just let it turn over for a couple days and then rinse everything a million times? Im in no real hurry to set it up, I just need it clean for when I am ready. I have a pic of the filter media but I don't know how to attach them. Any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[travelerjp98]

I would wash a lot of it with vinegar instead of bleach. And then, rinse, rinse, rinse!

 

[snakeblitz33]

No bleach. Use Vinegar. Wash sand in regular tap and let it dry before using. Replace the carbon. Ditch the crushed coral looking stuff. Get a sturdy stand. Use a plastic credit card and vinegar to scrape off any calcium deposits. Soak your pumps and powerheads in vinegar and test them. Get a voltmeter and make sure all your electrical systems are working properly and not putting voltage in the tank.

 

[acrylic51]

Bleach is perfectly fine.....Just rinse really well and you can air dry......Sunlight also helps as well......Curious how do you guys think filter socks are cleaned???? Washing machine, a drop of bleach and air dry till bleach can't be smelled.....Perfectly fine.......

 

[meowzer]

LOL...I sanitized all my tanks with bleach.....I then filled them with water and soaked them in a de-chlorinator...and rinsed rinsed rinsed
I use whote vinegar for most of my equipment though....

 

[al&burke]

I use bleach as well I even used with some questionable live rock to kill everything. Another way to clean a tank is to put it upside down with one of those oscillating (spelling) sprinklers.

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by acrylic51 http:///t/389131/cleaning-used-tank-and-supplies#post_3436740
Bleach is perfectly fine.....Just rinse really well and you can air dry......Sunlight also helps as well......Curious how do you guys think filter socks are cleaned???? Washing machine, a drop of bleach and air dry till bleach can't be smelled.....Perfectly fine.......
I clean my filter socks with just water and a scrub brush...
Sometimes I use soap, and when I do, I rinse well and let it air dry.

 

[gemmy]

I would use bleach way before soap. Soap can leave a residue that we can't see or feel. Bleach is just chlorine and you can use a dechlorinator to make it safe.

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///t/389131/cleaning-used-tank-and-supplies#post_3436990
I would use bleach way before soap. Soap can leave a residue that we can't see or feel. Bleach is just chlorine and you can use a dechlorinator to make it safe.
Yeah, but still... I am extremely careful with it......... I use very little.... etc.

 

[btldreef]

Quote:
Originally Posted by travelerjp98 http:///t/389131/cleaning-used-tank-and-supplies#post_3436994
Yeah, but still... I am extremely careful with it......... I use very little.... etc.
You're still playing with fire by using soap. You're not even supposed to wash your hands in soap and water before handling things in your fish tank, which most people don't realize.

 

[teresaq]

I use bleach and 40 strength peroxide to clean seahorse fry tanks and brine shrimp hatcheries. I also use vinegar to clean calcium deposits from tanks and equipment.

 

[travelerjp98]

Quote:
Originally Posted by BTLDreef http:///t/389131/cleaning-used-tank-and-supplies#post_3437153
You're still playing with fire by using soap. You're not even supposed to wash your hands in soap and water before handling things in your fish tank, which most people don't realize.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gemmy http:///t/389131/cleaning-used-tank-and-supplies#post_3436990
I would use bleach way before soap. Soap can leave a residue that we can't see or feel. Bleach is just chlorine and you can use a dechlorinator to make it safe.
Well... another fact learned!
I always knew that you weren't supposed to use soap before tank maintenance, but next time I'll use bleach instead of soap to wash my filter socks!
Well... this is why I am on here!