Is it safe to use rubbing alcohol to sanitize fish equipment?

Question

Everyone keeps saying to use bleach but I was wondering if alcohol would work too since it evaporates.

Answer 1

Don't bleach your nets because the bleach will eat through the netting in no time. You can use alcohol but will need to do a thorough rinsing to make sure all the alcohol is out before using with the fish again. I use hydrogen peroxide (you can get it from the drugstore, Walmart, Walgreens, etc.) to soak gravel vacuums, nets, etc. between uses since peroxide breaks down into oxygen and water when it gets hot--so I rinse the things in hot water after they've soaked in peroxide. I bleach tanks that are no longer in use, then put water dechlorinator chemicals (Prime) in and leave it to soak overnight--dechlorinator neutralizes the bleach. Then do a good rinse (and smell the tank to make sure it no longer smells like bleach).

Answer 2

I am a chemist. What is it you want to do? Sanitize means to clean, remove odors and offensive material. It does not necessarily mean to sterilize, which is to kill micro organisms or disease causing agents. Alcohol will not clean all things. But it will certainly sterilize and kill those bad bugs if concentrated enough and not diluted. Yes it is totally safe once it evaporates. Chlorine bleach will sanitize and sterilize, remove stains and rust or corrode everything in sight if not rinsed off. But it also evaporates. To sterilize and sanitize with bleach, the chlorine needs to be at 100 ppm and the exposure should be for 2 minutes. This is about 2 oz of bleach in 1 gallon of water. Use either alcohol or bleach in a well ventillated space. If water has chlorine in it (such as water from the tap), you can let it sit in an open container for 24 hours and the chlorine will evaporate out of the water.

Answer 3

No - bleach is a solution of a salt called sodium hypochlorite. When the water evaporates, it breaks down into other salts, including sodium chloride. Allowing it to air dry fully leaves nothing but salt behind. When you then add water and fish in the tank there may be a bit of salt residue, but that won't harm your fish. Make sure you rinse as well as you can though. I have been using bleach on my aquarium decorations for a decade and have never had any issues with it.

Rubbing alcohol leaves residue behind that will harm your fish. If you don't want to use bleach you can use aquarium salt - use it as a scrub and then rinse well. They also make cleaners for aquariums and supplies, thouge they are very expensive for what they do.

Answer 4

Bleach doesn't always become safe for an aquarium after drying, the salts mentioned about can be toxic and can also recombine in a tank and form lethal combinations. Alcohol isn't a good choice either though.

Depending on why you feel you need to sanitize the tank, different things work, but generally using a very strong salt solution and very hot water will kill or remove any potential parasites or diseases.

MM

Answer 5

You should try not to use any alcohol or chemicals when cleaning fish tank equipment. Because you might get a small amount in the tank itself.

Answer 6

I wouldn't use bleach or rubbing alcohol.

If you really must sanitize your tank, use salt.


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Answer 7

No, they will kill your fish instantly. Try scouring it with hot water if you want to sanitize it.

~ZTM

Answer 8

no you do not use any kind of chemical just water. i work at a fish store so i would know i done it before and about all my fish died

Answer 9

no. nononono. just water and a clean scrubby pad thing.

Answer 10

NO YOU WILL DRY YOUR EYES OUT!!!