Today at a estate sale, I found a fish tank and bought it. How do I sanatize it without using chemicals? I don't want to risk killing fish with chemicals.
2007-04-21 10:18:59 · 10 answers · asked by PinkPuff 2 in Pets ➔ Fish
Use straight white vinegar (the good old cheap stuff). Use a paper towel and wash it all down. Not only does it get rid of water deposits (you would need to leave a vinegar soaked paper towel on any very hard water stains maybe 30 to 60 minutes), then clean. You can also add any baking soda as needed to tough spots with the vinegar to give you scrubbing power if needed, then rinse. The vinegar ia a natural disenfectant, and any residue that may be left will not hurt your fish. REMEMBER, Never use any bucket (get one just for your fish tank use), cloth, or towel, that has EVER had soap on it. I only use paper towels on mine. We had a fish store for 10 years and those are the only products we used. Also, it is always a great idea to wipe your hands with vinegar then rinse prior to ever sticking your hands into your tank of fish. Enjoy those fish!
2007-04-21 10:49:09 · answer #1 · answered by debijs 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Without knowing the history of the tank, the only way you can be completely sure you've gotten rid of everything that could cause disease would be to use a 10-12% bleach solution. Bacteria can create cysts which resist pH (vinegar) and heat treatments.
Use 1 cup of bleach to 10-12 cups of water and get this on all surfaces that would have contact with the water for 15 minutes. Drain and rinse the tank 2-3 times. If you fill the tank up with water to cycle your tank right afterward, use a little extra dechlorinator. If you let it air-dry, you won't need to do anything extra.
I've bought most of my tanks at auctions or used, and I've always cleaned them using this method and haven't had any problems with the fish.
2007-04-21 12:12:26 · answer #2 · answered by copperhead 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Don't listen to the people who say use bleach because that's not safe for the fish, the environment, or you.
Some things that are safe to clean a tank with and wont harm the fish, environment, or you are: 1. distilled water 2. baking soda and 3. salt.
The distilled works well because its highly concentrated, but its not unsafe because its after all just water.
The baking soda has an abrasive type effective when scrubbing with it and Its very neutral chemically so it wont be toxic or caustic.
The salt like the baking soda has a slight abrasive effect when scrubbing with it, its a little gritty when you use a lot of it; plus, salt has an effect of being somewhat anti-algae.
Oh and don't worry about the abrasive effects of salt and baking soda, the slight abrasive effect they have when cleaning with them is just in their consistency not chemical makeup or structure.
You can use the distilled water and soda together just use a ratio of like 3 to 1. Use 3 parts baking soda to 1 part distilled water.
The salt, just scrub with that in its raw form. Use table salt it works well. You don't need kosher salt or any other kind of salt. Buy the cheap kind and just use the whole container. I would use gloves when scrubbing with salt also because if it gets in a small cut or something like that it can be a bit painful.
And lastly, always rinse well, very well!!! Rinsing well ensures everything has been washed out, the bad stuff that you wanted cleaned off or out and the stuff you are cleaning with.
2007-04-21 13:35:24 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
save wiping it down and drying it for the the remainder of the week (just to be on the risk-free side) i did this too and my tank seems as good as new, i understand fish being concerned may well be extremely tiring at situations, yet once you rather need your tank new and risk-free for the hot fish, do exactly it and have confidence me, its particularly worth it :)
2016-10-13 03:21:44 · answer #4 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A small amount of bleach, about 3 oz per gallon. NO SOAP!
2007-04-21 11:05:00 · answer #5 · answered by JJB 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
use a dilluted bleach, or soap and then let it sit out in the sun for a long time, but as long as you rinse it reall really well it should be okay.
2007-04-21 13:42:05 · answer #6 · answered by greenkatkat 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Wash it out well with white vinegar and water, then let it dry in the hot sun.
2007-04-21 10:21:57 · answer #7 · answered by Behaviorist 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think you should clean it by sing very little soap not to much because that could effect the fishes health
2007-04-21 10:21:50 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
you can use from diluted bleach but rinse it well and add xtra declor after
2007-04-21 10:30:48 · answer #9 · answered by Skittles 4 · 2⤊ 1⤋
leave it in the sun this will nutrulize parasites and bacteria.
2007-04-21 10:29:14 · answer #10 · answered by Dr. dope 4 · 1⤊ 2⤋