question about using a used tank?

[mike80124]

Hi I just got out of my salt water set up and and have a 1 year old 72 gallon tank my question is can i use this tank for discus and what would be the best way to clean it

thanks

[meenieme]

I would just rinse well and make sure as much of any caked salt as possible is gone. Most of my tanks were bought used and I actually used salt to scrub them down with to clean them before us. Flush well and fill (I have well water so I don't need to declorinate), heat to required fish temp and cycle the tank. If you have any freshwater tanks you can seed the tank with media from one of those tanks.

[Aquatic_Design]

Hi Mike,
Most of the tanks I am using were purchased used. Two were also salt water setups. I scrubbed them out then rinsed well with water. I also sprayed them with alcohol and left them overnight. I rinsed again and then set them up. I haven't had any problems.
HTH
Donna :)

[brewmaster15]

Hi Mike,
Many of my tanks are used, Few parasites survive the transition from salt to fresh water, but some do, as well as some bacterias.

I've always used bleach to clean them.. 10 % will kill most anything, for a general cleaning though in a tank that didn't have any problems,.. 1 cup of bleach in a 75 Gal, and let run over night. drain , rinse, refill, drain, refill AND ADD A DECHLOR TO BE SURE.

hth,
al

Give this article a read. It suggests that bleach may not be killing as much as you think it is. They recommend salt water for sterilizing a new tank. Maybe you could use bleach, rinse it really well, then fill with water and add a bunch of salt and then empty.

Dave

http://www.petsforum.com/mas/masart35.htm

[brewmaster15]

Hi Dave,
I've seen that article before, and honestly don't haven't a clue why she saw what she saw. I think that as a sterilizer (her point) it may not be as effective as other unpractical means, but as a disinfectant its probably the best option for a large item like a tank ( IMO), next would be alcohol.

Theres a couple of statements the author makes that aren't accurate by any literature I have read... ...

suggesting salt without using it herself, and giving no concentrations isn't very useful for example.

Use Salt. While some of the various bugs seem to survive Clorox just fine, far less things survived the sudden transition from freshwater to marine water.


When all else fails, spread everything out and let it dry; this should get rid of almost all disease causing agents. pathogenic spore of bacteria and some fungus can last for years in a dry resting state.


One thing that may help account for what she saw was organics in the water or pH (which she gives no info on). They might have neutralized the bleach. In a bare tank though, there should be none of this reaction going on.

At least the author recognizes she only did this once,and it won't get her a nobel prize! :)


10 % bleach is used as disinfectant in hospitols and labs everywhere. It will kill HIV, herpes, and a whole sleu of pathogens on contact. Its part of most labs protocol for disposing of blood.

I use it to sterilize my homebrew supplies.


Some interesting reads..
http://www.orcbs.msu.edu/biological/ecp_01/disinfection.htm

http://www.steamatic-cr.com/bioclean/PRINCIPLES.html

http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues/issue1.2/raines.html

http://www.ehss.vt.edu/Programs/LSD/Biosafety/BiosafetyForLaboratoryWorkers/08_Decontamination.htm



hth,
al