What is the best way to clean a fish tank and filters that have been in storage?

Question

I am now upgrading to a 55 gal tank. The set up I found has been in a basement for 2 years. The tank is not that bad but the filters are and tubes have what looks like old alge on them. I was told everything was rinsed when it was taken down.The filters are a whisper power filter that takes 2 filter pads and a fluval 303. How can I safely clean them? Also I need to set this up asap.
Thanks for your help.

Answer 1

The simplest, chaepest and one of the best ways is just with salt, water and elbow grease. Use the salt like you would cleansing powder in the kitchen sink, as an abrasive. You might have to get creative with brushes and the like to get in the tubes, but it can be done. Very hot water will help lossen old aglea as well. This method is very safe for the future fish without worrying about super careful rinsing like you would with many products.

I wouldn't give up on the equipment until I saw that it didn't work. Don't try to clean the pads and other filter media, just replace that and you should be fine.

Answer 2

Avoid chemicals as much as possible. I would not recommend using bleach...as someone mentioned, you can buy the aquarium salt from the pet store. Use that along with some SUPER hot water, the plastic things should clean up okay.
I would probably get new pads and filters if I were you. It's been in storage too long.
Good luck!

Answer 3

i might bleach it with warm water, and rinse it fairly good. ( The glass / toys / clear out ect..) Cant help you with the sealing it , its no longer my element . additionally purchase new chemical compounds, just to be risk-free. they do no longer seem to be that high priced. ;] Edit - Bleach does an particularly good activity cleansing, and that i've got in no way had a concern with it . hassle-free warm water won't get rid of the dried chemical compounds interior the tank , it would placed it decrease back into the water and coat the products returned . you need to get it clean with warm water, even though it would take plenty , and many time. * Dont use cleansing soap EVER , It coats .

Answer 4

In your position, I would chuck the filters. They haven't been used in 2 years and who knows how they were used before that; I would just an AquaClear 70 power filter or a Rena XP2 canister fitler for your tank.
If you must keep these filters, scrub them with a toothbrush under hot water. You can use a little vinegar or baking soda paste (mix baxing soda with a little water) if you need to.

Answer 5

i was recentley given an old tank that somebody had laying arround ouside. When i got it it was covered in both green and brown algae. at first i started at it with a toothbrush, and that got old fast. so i went out and bought one of those little plastic fingernail or potato brushes (they're about an inch in lenth and fit over your fingers you can usually find them at any grocery store). it worked fantasticly ! i used a 25% bleach solution along with several salt scrubs.
the lady who gave me the tank also gave me the filter,which was des-troy-ed. there was almost NO saving it. but i did try to strip it as much as possible and blast it out with the hose.needless to say i had to chuck it. ooh yeah and remember to check all of the silicon sealant.

Answer 6

I have 2 large tanks, I use non iodized salt.... you can get it at the grocery store.... dirt cheap.... you can get most of anything off with it... some hot water and salt should have your tank up and going in a matter of how fast you clean it.... just rinse it well.... non iodized salt is harmless if a little is left on it... and maybe a toothbrush or a scrubbie....

Answer 7

first and foremost, set up the tank outside, make sure it is level so you don't get a stress crack, fill with water and wait - need to make sure that the sealent hasn't dried out and developed leaks
then you can empty and move it indoors
good luck

Answer 8

you can buy new tubing and pads and everything at walmart or any pet store. old algae is dead algae and shouldn't be much of a problem. maybe try running some bleach through it and then letting it sit out for a couple days before using it.

Answer 9

with soap and a net