Cleaning used tank?

[123]

I just acquired a fish tank from a neighbor who was no longer using it. It had been stored. How should I go about cleaning it? Can I use bleach? Suggestions?

 

[Salty Fishes]

Yes, you can use bleach. Just rinse, rinse, rinse afterwards, and add some extra dechlorinator when you set up the tank with water in it.

Just DO NOT use soap.

 

[ninamarie]

clean the holy snot out of it.

 

[S-kate]

holy snot! what a wonderful expression. I'm going to use that all the time now.

 

[lou48314]

I have another question about cleaning a used tank....
I have just gotten one out of a garage and I wonder if I should recaulk it too. It is a 50GL.
It has been sitting for about six or seven years out there. It even has the old substrate in it too.
What would all of you do?

 

[ninamarie]

clean the SNOT out of it and fill up check for leaks and then re seal it..duh..hee hee

 

[catfishbum]

i recently had to do this, plus the tank i aquired had old hard algae on it. i just put reeeaally hot water in it and let it set, then wiped the SNOT out of it with paper towels. worked great for me....

 

[ninamarie]

that is great you got all the SNOT out of it

 

[angelmom]

The SNOT out of it...he he he...that's funny

 

[Shaunna]

I think it is gross!!

 

[ninamarie]

what really

 

[catfishbum]

i really wish i had taken a pick of the tank. it was a solid 1/16 algae layer all over the tank. once it absorbed water a bit it did look like snot, but anyways. it took me about 2 hours to clean it completely, this is what it looks like....

 

[S-kate]

nice job.

 

[kerosenecounty17]

One suggestion - Look the tank over carefully for scratches after you get it cleaned up. I picked up a used 45 gallon and the previous owner must have used steel wool on it. One of the long sides has numerous scratches in the glass. The other long side is much better. Of course, I didn't notice and put the bad side toward the front.

kc17

 

[ninamarie]

Nice tank!!!!

 

[Coolfish5000]

Cleaned it Like SNOT

 

[catfishbum]

hehe, glad you guys like it. unfortunately i had to buy a new hood but i got a used mini bio-wheel filter so i never had to cycle it. i was going to say dont use steel wool either. i used hot hot water and a paper towel, not cloth as it leaves lint, deoderants and other stuff behind. and most importantly no chemicals. glad you like the tank!!!

 

[ninamarie]

cool beans!