Ick on rocks?

[lovleeko]

My friend just set up a tank a month or two ago and she bought all new rocks to go in it. She saw the tank that I recently put sand in and decided to go with sand since she also had been wanting it for a while. Well I want her rocks instead of her throwing them away. She recently had an ick prob and was still having it when she switched substrate. Would bleaching them really good make them totally in the clear for use? I know this seems like a no brainer but I wonder because I read that bleach wont kill TB and that you have to throw all the fish stuff away that you used with infected fish.

[chronic]

I dont think thats true. Because I've had ick a few times (via feeder fish) Treated it.. and I dont have it now using the same aquarium rocks, sand, wood, etc.

So if you disinfect the rocks, I doubt you would have a problem.

[Northernguy]

There is a big difference between ich and TB!
I believe the bleach and really hot water will do it.Make sure there is no more bleach smell on anything before you put it in your tank.

[Wild Turkey]

There is a big difference between ich and TB!
I believe the bleach and really hot water will do it.Make sure there is no more bleach smell on anything before you put it in your tank.

Agree! It will be fine if you bleach it. Im pretty sure if you just let it dry out the ich would die, but i would bleach it anyway.

Bleach kills TB, bleach and water is another story. I know from experience.
They say use alcohol for tb but when you have a buttload of tanks, thats a lot of alcohol. I used 4-5 gallons of bleach when i cleaned my tanks and equipment. And i mean bleach, bleach, not a cleaner with bleach in it. It burned my skin quite a bit after cleaning them all.

[The Wedge]

My suggestion is to use H2O2 (hydrogen peroxide) it is just as good as an oxidizing disinfectant...and it dissociates into water and oxygen naturally when exposed to light. Using bleach in the wrong proportions with water can leave residues that will have a negative impact on your tank. Hydrogen Peroxide is much better and safer to use. Trust me, it will be just as effective and a fish friendly option. Do what you like :)

TB is transfered in sputum (spit) but maybe you will be surprised to know that H2O2 vapor is an effective disinfectant for TB (used in hospital environments). It is used as a safer alternative to formaldehyde (which is a good ich (fungus and parasite) killer but pretty nasty stuff)

[lovleeko]

Thanks so much guys for the opinions and suggestions. Helpful as always. I did read the other day not to use bleach on gravel because it absorbs it. I have done this before. Same scenario sort of. Same friend who has the ick had anchor worms. She was switching from a twenty to thirty gallon and did not want the 20 any more (unlike me who is obsessed and has too many tanks HEHE). She gives the tank to me and I bleached the crap out of that thing. I'm talking half bleach half water (anchor worms scare me LOL). And I accidentally left the bleach on for too long. I currently have residents presiding there now so I assume they couldn't have absorbed too much. But essentially bleach is sort of like chlorine so I wouldn't think it would have too much ill effect if your an over doser of the dechlorinater like I am. But then again, after doing all this to the tank it did sit for a good month or two before I added any water or life to it. Since these rocks will be used pretty quickly I guess I need to take it easy with the bleach. What dose would you suggest. one part bleach four parts water? Less or more? Thanks.

[Wild Turkey]

Since we arent talking about TB here, you dont need to use much more than 5:1 but i usually use 2:1 if i can get away with it.

Too much bleach can melt sponges and soft plastics, so be careful

I always let gravel soak in fresh water after ive rinsed them and all, just to be safe. Its not the bleach, its the surfactants and detergents in bleach that can hurt fish, someone brought this up a while ago thinking dechlor would take care of bleach, which it may....but not "clorox bleach" or similar. It has surfactants and other junk in it.

[lovleeko]

Makes sense, another reason why people should not use bleach as chlorine in pools. That always freaked me out. :help:


Since we arent talking about TB here, you dont need to use much more than 5:1 but i usually use 2:1 if i can get away with it.

Too much bleach can melt sponges and soft plastics, so be careful

I always let gravel soak in fresh water after ive rinsed them and all, just to be safe. Its not the bleach, its the surfactants and detergents in bleach that can hurt fish, someone brought this up a while ago thinking dechlor would take care of bleach, which it may....but not "clorox bleach" or similar. It has surfactants and other junk in it.

[Northernguy]

Using bleach is not all that bad as long as you rinse well and do not forget to use dechlorinator.A little extra will also take care of any bleach residue!
Just my 2 cents!

[Wild Turkey]

Makes sense, another reason why people should not use bleach as chlorine in pools. That always freaked me out. :help:

That is a different bleach, most likely that is pure bleach, but its not what is under ur sink or in ur laundry room ;) Otherwise the water would probably taste soapy, im just guessing though i dont own a pool.

Should be fine just rinse it twice well and smell it after.

[The Wedge]

Your not going to be able to use stress coat or tetra safe or something...your going to have use old school dechlorinator if you use bleach. Water treatment plants use chloramine which is used 3 ppm usually. In this ratio it is easily removed with something like stress coat. You are going to need the old drop style dechlorinator. I guess I can't talk you into using H2O2...from a scientific view...much better, easily rinsed, and dissociated into harmless elements and compounds. It oxidizes fast and dissipates...You can by the huge bottles at a grocery for a little over a dollar. You could poor it on the rocks and your done with little rinsing. If you're gonna use bleach I wouldn't use a ratio more than 1:10 but that's just me. I like keeping it simple

[lovleeko]

We have a pool. It isn't good for the pool like chlorine for several reasons no one here cares about here LOL but sort of similar to tanks kind of. Alkalinity and ph being involved. As far as what type of bleach, I dont know. But I am not jumping into a pool you poured bleach into. Plain as that. LMAO It just freaks me out. It isn't that hard to freak me out though HEHE


That is a different bleach, most likely that is pure bleach, but its not what is under ur sink or in ur laundry room ;) Otherwise the water would probably taste soapy, im just guessing though i dont own a pool.

Should be fine just rinse it twice well and smell it after.

[Northernguy]

Your not going to be able to use stress coat or tetra safe or something...your going to have use old school dechlorinator if you use bleach. Water treatment plants use chloramine which is used 3 ppm usually. In this ratio it is easily removed with something like stress coat. You are going to need the old drop style dechlorinator. I guess I can't talk you into using H2O2...from a scientific view...much better, easily rinsed, and dissociated into harmless elements and compounds. It oxidizes fast and dissipates...You can by the huge bottles at a grocery for a little over a dollar. You could poor it on the rocks and your done with little rinsing. If you're gonna use bleach I wouldn't use a ratio more than 1:10 but that's just me. I like keeping it simple
Aqua-plus and stress coat both contain dechlorinators and are fine for diluting small amounts of household bleach!

[The Wedge]

key word small...the amount in the tap water supply is very very low.

[Northernguy]

When bleach is used to clean something it is easily rinsed away.Its not a problem to wash anything with bleach as long as you rinse well.The dechlorinator is just another precaution. Also not all water treatment plants are in the practice of using chloramine.I know for a fact that it is not used up here.

[The Wedge]

...just wanted to make a suggestion that is safer IMHO, with less rinsing, and more organically friendly (to the residents including tank fauna). I've had crashes from using bleach and I was meticulous about rinsing...obviously not enough

I have since used hydrogen peroxide because it is much safer IMHO, less work IMHO, and oxidizes just as well. It needs no dilution as well...and can be poured directly on...killing the fauna or other critters in seconds. Then rinsed off no problem. Not trying to beat a dead horse here or convince anybody of anything...just letting people know there is another option. Ultimately, they should use what is more comfortable for them. I've worked in a few microbiological labs, so I am not pitching snake oil here.

However, you are correct that bleach will be as effective...done with the solution in the right ratio and the correct application of rinsing. I will have to bow out. I am sure I am making a bigger deal than what it is worth. Plus I have big problems with debating :) PEACE

[chronic]

I'm glad you mentioned that! I've never used bleach for any pet purposes mainly because I have been weary of it. But yeah, peroxide you douse onto open wounds. Bleach wouldn't do so well in that scenario lol

I'll keep that in mind for the future!

[Northernguy]

But yeah, peroxide you douse onto open wounds. Bleach wouldn't do so well in that scenario lol
I use bleach for cleaning and in such small amounts that you can rinse it out!
I use salt for wounds!

[The Wedge]

I use bleach for cleaning and in such small amounts that you can rinse it out!
I use salt for wounds!
ROTFLMAO:22: