I have a 40 gallon aquarium already and would liek to set up my other 5 gallon aquarium. the problem is, is that i loet my friend borrow it for this turtle she got. I dont know if it has/had any diseaease an was wondering how to disenfect the aquarium before setting it up again just incase.
at the pet store they said bleach or use vinegar with somehting else...
any other ways to disenfect? from products at home?
thank you!
2007-01-10 07:03:29 · 13 answers · asked by Anonymous in Pets ➔ Fish
does it matter what kind of vinegar? liek white wine or red wine vinegar? or shoudl it just be regular vinegar?
2007-01-10 07:20:25 · update #1
also for salt? can i use noniodized sea salt? as i do not have any aquarium salt.
2007-01-10 07:39:45 · update #2
Do not use bleach or any cleaning products. Any residue of them will kill whatever new fish you put in the tank.
Use vinegar. Fill the 5 gallon up halfway or so with vinegar, add some water, wipe all the sides down and set it soak for a while, then dump and rinse it out a few times.
I don't think there is any danger, especially if the tank has been dry for a while, of any disease being transmitted. In any case, vinegar and hot water will fix the problem!
If you are really really concerned, you can use pure bleach (not the scented stuff), but rinse it thoroughly and dump dechlorinator in it while you rinse until you can't smell any bleach.
2007-01-10 07:11:11 · answer #1 · answered by Zoe 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
HERE YOU GO.... natural, and disifecting:
1 cup water, 1 cup white vinigar, 1 cup table or aquarium salt.
disolve salt in vinigar and water, so that the grains don't scratch your tank, and rub generously onto every sqaure inch of the tank, inside and out with a rinsed out fresh (or specifically aquarium cleaning) sponge.
those turtles, the ones that you're worried about the diseases, dont' live in salt water, because the salt will kill them, as well as their diseases.
DO NOT use bleach on your fish tank, especially if it's plexi glass, because the plastic willl suck the bleach into it, then leach it out into your water. for the same reason, you're not supposed to use bleach on your dishes.
once your tank is clean, let air dry COMPLETELY and then make sure that you properly cycle your new tank, just to make sure that the bacteria will get established correctly.
also, the idea of the ammonia would work very well too,,,,,, especially if that's what you use to cycle with. add a few drops into the mixture above.
good luck, and have a good day!!
2007-01-10 15:36:29 · answer #2 · answered by Silver Thunderbird 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
A ten to one bleach(ten parts water to one part bleach) solution will certainly disinfect your 5 gal, then the problem becomes getting rid of the bleach. You can use trisodium phosphate to get rid of the chlorine,(this stuff can be found at paint stores,I think it's called "sizing"). Then you are down to a lot of careful rinsing. Another way to clean an old tank is with a laundry product called Oxi-Clean. I believe the right proportion is 2 tbs. to a gallon of water,instructions on the package. Hope this helps. PeeTee.
2007-01-10 15:26:54 · answer #3 · answered by PeeTee 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I would definitely stick with bleach or vinegar. If you use any harsh chemicals and they leave any residue, it might kill anything you put in the aquarium afterwards.
Even with bleach or vinegar, be sure to rinse thoroughly and let it air dry completely.
2007-01-10 15:09:18 · answer #4 · answered by Gator 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Your best bet is to mix 2tbs. of vinegar with 1 quart of water. After wipping down the aquarium with this mixture, make sure you wipe down the aquarium with pure water and allow to dry.
2007-01-10 15:09:23 · answer #5 · answered by SD 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Ammonia is good because any left over traces will be converted by bacteria while the new tank cycles. Make sure it's rinsed thoroughly before you begin the cycle.
2007-01-10 15:09:02 · answer #6 · answered by SpongeMaster99 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would use bleach and water and make sure you flush, flush and flush some more until all of the bleach is gone. Turtles are not clean when living in a tank.
2007-01-10 15:08:55 · answer #7 · answered by Moon Man 5 · 0⤊ 1⤋
pet stores have (or should have) a product that is safe to use on a fish tank to clean it. if you use bleach becarefull and make sure you rinse it well. it'll also help to rinse it with some water that has some declor...na..tor stuff in it.
2007-01-10 15:09:53 · answer #8 · answered by Killer Tomato 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Hot water. Any soap can kill the fish you put in. I don't know why they told you bleach at the pet store!!
2007-01-10 15:09:32 · answer #9 · answered by ajax 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
just go with the pet store thats probbaly safer than what i do i use lysol glass cleaner it always works but you have to wash the inside of the tank very good
2007-01-10 15:07:40 · answer #10 · answered by matt789 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋