I have a 45 gallon fish tank that has sat around for 2 years. What should I do before I get it going again?

Question

It was used with a great set up of Texas Cichlids and holey rock. I want to get the tank going again but want to be sure it is cleaned up real good before starting the cycle and buying new fish. Is there something i should do other than bleach clean the tank. I have two pumps attached to an under gravel filter and a bio-wheel. can they be re-used. I did have an ick problem once.

Answer 1

Don't use bleach...residue will harm your fish. Instead use really hot water and a lot of elbow grease. You can use very dilute vinegar if you cannot get all the hard water scale off with water alone. Razor blades are also helpful. I'd change your filter media and rinse with hot water, but otherwise everything should be fine. The ick cannot survive out of water so it's not a worry.

When you do start your tank, consider doing a fishless cycle (adding an ammonia source until you have 5ppm and testing the water until you have readings of 0ppm for both ammonia and nitrite; this will build up the beneficial bacteria in your filter media and on your substrate to prevent fish damage and loss during the cycle). After the fishless cycle, do a large water change (about 80%) then test the water a day later and if ammonia and nitrite are still 0ppm, which they should be, you're good to stock.

If you can find Bio-Spira or someone with old filter media/gravel from a tank that's currently running you can greatly speed up the cycle.

Answer 2

Im not sure how common ich is in fresh water fish but your gonna have great difficulty ever ridding it from the water you put in your tank. The best option is to boil it first but then you have to remember that the fish will be coming in from ich infested water as well. The best way to beat ich is to keep your fish stress free and well fed. But it wont survive the drying process for sure. 2nd id go find an aquarium safe cleaning product i believe they make those. 3rd id get some silicon and reline the seals. As for the biowheel id start a new one unless youve been constantly running the one youve had all the bacteria would of died off of it now. So by starting with a new one you have a better chance it wont just break after its got a new colony growing on it. BTW when i say buy a new wheel i mean the thing that spins not the entire filter. Hope that helps but do reline your tank unless your sure you didnt twist it at all. It would really suck to have this thing explode on you.

Answer 3

This is very simple, all you need are a few things:
1) Hot Water to clean the tank (NO CLEANING CHEMICALS)
2) Scrub Brush
3) Razor Blade to scratch of any remaining residue

Repeat steps 1 and 2 several times to kill any bacteria. Do the same thing with the gravel and anything you add to the aquarium (Plants or Castles). When you do set it up let the water run through the filter for 1 week before adding fish, and also have the temperature raise to about 75 with a heater. After this you are ready for fish.

Answer 4

While it's smaller than ideal, it IS possible to heat, filter and cycle a tank that size, and a betta can live in there. BUt you are missing the point of an aquarium, and how to run one. It's not a "cage" that you fully clean out each week like a dog or bearded dragon's cage. You need to set it up as a working ecosystem, where the filter keeps the water clean ALL the time using biological filtering with beneficial bacteria. To achieve this we use the filter system to set up a nitrogen cycle in the tank. Then try and disrupt this as little as possible. Only part water changes, wipe down the algae, vacuum the gravel etc. The tank NEVER gets emptied, moved or fully scrubbed out. That just destroys any natural cycle and balance that you have been able to get established in there.. Ian

Answer 5

I would suggest just warm water and a clean towel. If there are stubborn spots of old algae or grime, use some salt to scrub those off the tank. I would also suggest replacing the bio-wheel part of the filter and keeping everything else.

Be sure to place the tank on a level flat surface outside and allow it to set filled for several hours to be sure it has not developed a leak.

No ich will have survived the drying period so that's not a concern for you at all.

MM

Answer 6

DON'T BLEACH IT!!!!! The bleach will soak into the silicone and permanently poison the tank.

Use saltwater

Any Ick that was in the filters and stuff should be dead by now. You might want to change out the bio-wheel tho. No telling how much dust and grime has gotten into the fibers. The rest of the stuff should be fine.

Answer 7

do not use any cleaning supplies in the tank it can harm the fish ...u could use the same bio-wheel the Bactria that was on it is dead u just need to clean it too u may want to buy a cheep 99 cent fish to test the water to make sure it is fine fore the fish that cost more .

Good luck

Answer 8

you can start by cleaning the tank with a diluted soap and water combo just be positive you get all the soap out befor adding anything to it now its time to do a fishless cycle or nitrogen cycle whatever you want to call it for more info email me I'll give you the details then add fish and do regular chores for it

Answer 9

just give it a good clean and rinse. fill it up , use de clorintator. set the heater leave it running with filter. use pure ammonia everyday to increase the nitrate levels when all is well and your tests are coming back fne the you can add fish/frogs.terrapins etc

good luck

Answer 10

Clean every thing out like you said, set it up with the current filters you have to see if every thing is working properly and to check for any possible leaks or problems. I would go ahead if every thing is working good! All though it might be a good idea to up grade your filtration system!