Cleaning a used tank

[bearfan]

Ok, I still just getting my feet wet so bare with me for a moment. I've been doing some research and everything I've found says to clean a tank with just hot water, and possibly some aquarium or kosher salt. No soap whatsoever.

I've just purchased a used tank and I was thinking about cleaning it with water and some ammonia. I figured that since I'm going to do a fishless cycle, using the ammonia won't hurt since I'm going to have to add it anyway.

Does anyone see anything wrong with this line of thinking?

For the record I picked up the Ace Hardware Janitorial Strength ammonia. It's just water and ammonia (10% if I remember correctly), no surfactants. I shook it and no bubbles form, plus I've seen it recommended here I think.

Thanks

[crackatinny]

Not real sure about the ammonia for cleaning, I have only ever used a 50 50 mix of white vinigar and water, this will bring off calcium stains and anything I have come accros, just give tank a good rinse afterwards.

[Rue]

I dunno about the ammonia...likely would be fine...but not worth risking anything...

...I used LOTS of vinegar and hot water to clean the used SW tank for the goldfish...and had no issues...

[Sasquatch]

I can't see anything wrong with using ammonia to clean, as long as there aren't any surfactants in it. I just wonder how good of a cleaning job it'll do.

Personally, I use a 9:1 water:bleach solution to clean my aquariums and then a good rinse with hot water. Once you fill it and the water "ages" all the bleach will disapear with the chlorine in the tap water.

[puddlekeeper]

Ammonia is more for breaking down grease and oil in regards to cleaning.

Vinegar is real good.

For the life of me I can't understand why you wouldn't first use a good Bleach to disinfect the tank and to kill off any potential problems.

Lets face the fact that Bleach (Sodium Hypochlorite or Chlorine) is essentially what is used to purify water and kill off things that grow in water.

So long as you do a good flush of the tank before you fill it for cycling you should be just fine!

[RobbieG]

You would probably be fine - but I would still use one of the methods that the others suggested - better safe than sorry!

I use warm water myself.

[bscman]

I've used a few different methods, with no negative effects...

The key is to RINSE THOROUGHLY!!!

I've used regular glass cleaner.
I've used pure bleach and bleach mixed w/ water.
I've used pure ammonia.
I've used the "tank cleaners" you buy in spray bottle form from your LFS.

Like I said, I've never had any negative affects with any...but I do rinse thoroughly with HOT water...so spare me the "glass cleaners are a bad idea." Lets face it people, glass does not absorb liquids...it rinses clean.

Every used tank I buy, I re-seal and let stand full of water for a day or more to make sure they don't leak. By then you should be fine to start setting things up.

Lastly...to re-iterate...
RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH WARM WATER!
(I took the initiative and plumbed an outdoor Hot water spicket for my house in the driveway...makes washing cars in the cold SO much nicer)

[crackatinny]

I've used a few different methods, with no negative effects...

The key is to RINSE THOROUGHLY!!!

I've used regular glass cleaner.
I've used pure bleach and bleach mixed w/ water.
I've used pure ammonia.
I've used the "tank cleaners" you buy in spray bottle form from your LFS.

Like I said, I've never had any negative affects with any...but I do rinse thoroughly with HOT water...so spare me the "glass cleaners are a bad idea." Lets face it people, glass does not absorb liquids...it rinses clean.

Every used tank I buy, I re-seal and let stand full of water for a day or more to make sure they don't leak. By then you should be fine to start setting things up.

Lastly...to re-iterate...
RINSE THOROUGHLY WITH WARM WATER!
(I took the initiative and plumbed an outdoor Hot water spicket for my house in the driveway...makes washing cars in the cold SO much nicer)

Thanks for stressing about glass cleaners NOT BEING RECCOMENDED as we do not know what they contain, and CAN KILL FISH.

Best thing about water, is its natural, vinigar is a biproduct of vegetables.

Keep it simple and safe I say:thumb:

[bscman]

Thanks for stressing about glass cleaners NOT BEING RECCOMENDED as we do not know what they contain, and CAN KILL FISH.
Best thing about water, is its natural, vinigar is a biproduct of vegetables.
Keep it simple and safe I say:thumb:

While not recommended, they sure do a bang-up job! lol

I see it this way...there is a reason why glass is popularly used as food dishes, medical containers, and <cough> some adulty novelty toys <cough>...
It provides no means of bacteria or chemicals to soak into it...therefore it is easy to clean and sterilize.

I emphasized the point that, no matter what you use, clean thoroughly.

No, I would not use glass cleaner in a set up tank...if you clean the outside of your tank with glass cleaner, spray it on a rag first NOT on the tank. Many glass cleaners do have harmful chemicals and ammonia in them. Some are even anti-bacterial. So you don't want to let the mist get into the tank...

But as an initial wash, it does clean very well. It's also easy to rinse clean.
I haven't had any problems using it to date, and will continue doing so...while excersizing caution and making sure it is completely rinsed clean.

Hydroflouric acid is VERY harmful to the human body, and can cause severe burns and other health issues...but it is still used VERY commonly to clean big trucks, semi trailers, to etch glass, and rust removers, etc. The same principles apply--use caution. Very effective when used properly, very damaging when used improperly.

[Incredulous_Ed]

I used 10 parts water to one part bleach and rinsed incredibley thourougly. I didn't have any problems.

[GoldLenny]

As far as cleaning, I use plain white vinegar to break down any hard water buildup. Rinse once or twice and if you miss a little, it's so dulited already that it won't harm anything.

A strong salt water solution works as a cleaner, antibacterial, antiparasitic solution. One or two rinses is fine and if you miss a little, it won't harm the tank.

10% bleach solution works but rinse, rinse, rinse and rinse some more. Then let it air dry till you can't smell the bleach smell anymore.

One that I haven't seen mentioned in this thread is Hydrogen Peroxide (H2O2) which is basically water with an extra Oxygen molecule so it's an antibacterial/disinfectant which after it bubbles (releases an Oxygen molecule) it basically becomes distilled water. Rinse once or not at all. Once it oxidizes, it's basically inert.

You can even add HP to an inhabited tank at 1oz. per 10G for spot treating algae with a syringe or turkey baster. HP is also added to ponds during times with low O2 levels to raise the O2 levels. Just make sure the fish or other live creatures are not in the direct contact with the HP out of the syringe or turkey baster.

[Nick_Pavlovski]

Cold water, salt, warm water and then a really old toothbrush and an old synthetic scouring pad (well rinsed) - but then thoroughly dried off in good sunshine.

Always worked perfectly for me, especially the thorough drying in sunshine.