Previously used tank

Milhouse · 01/30/2008, 08:59 PM

So I have an old 30 gallon tank that's been sitting in my basement for a while. I want to set it up in my sons room. Well, for most of the tanks past it was used for...well, a saltwater tank. But for a short period of time, it was used to house my wife's rats. They were probably in it for about 3 months or so. I've heard "theories" in the past that this can be bad to then reuse as a tank because of ammonia. So does anyone have any real info on this? Has it actually happened? I can't imagine that sealant would hold ammonia for that long. Especially since the tank hasn't been used for anything in probably about 3 years.

Milhouse · 01/31/2008, 11:18 AM

Bump. There's gotta be someone out there with experience with my problem.

kimsie · 01/31/2008, 11:30 AM

wish I could help - I've got nothing...

Cope · 01/31/2008, 11:35 AM

I would think you will be ok, clean with white vinegar, rinse lather repeat, test for ammonia. if the test shows no ammonia then I think I would go for it. but I'm not the smartest guy on here.

2fishy · 01/31/2008, 12:36 PM

You can even wash it out with bleach. Just rinse it out really well and use a dechlorinator.

useskaforevil · 01/31/2008, 02:24 PM

haha, if there is enough ammonia to matter you'll find out when you add the bleach

sk8rreefgeek · 01/31/2008, 02:45 PM

for the amount of work and wondering "what if.." I'd just get a new tank. its only a 30g

celano · 01/31/2008, 03:42 PM

Dont buy a new tank when you have a perfectly good one ready to go. My wife also kept mice...I called them vermin in a ten gallon tank that I now use as a qt. Just rinse it out good use a little vinegar to wipe it down and you should be set.

K' Family Reef · 01/31/2008, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 2fishy
You can even wash it out with bleach. Just rinse it out really well and use a dechlorinator.

seriously doubt you will have a problem

but i second the bleach recom
many lfs use bleach to clean their marine equipment w/ no problems... use dechlorinator if you want to really be safe but i would just rinse it out really well and set it up!

good luck!

regards

tigereye37 · 01/31/2008, 05:45 PM

I think the biggest concern with re-using a tank for fish after it was used to house reptiles or rodents is that they sometimes like to claw up the silicone in the corners weakening the structure. Just make sure the silicone is in good shape so it doesn't give way after it is full.....

2fishy · 01/31/2008, 07:04 PM

I hope I didn't shock anyone with suggesting bleach. Before they had dechlorinators, people would let the water age, because bleach will disipate out of the water when left in an open container.

mfp4073 · 01/31/2008, 08:51 PM

yeah, bleach will go away after time (old boy scout trick was to use bleach and let the water sit for 24 hours). I have a tank that I had rats in too. There were 2-3 in there for at least 2 years. They were not diggers. Working fine. If I felt bad, I would let it sit for several days with water in it to confirm water tightness and to "leech" back out anything in there.

01/30/2008, 08:59 PM	#1
Milhouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 722	Previously used tank So I have an old 30 gallon tank that's been sitting in my basement for a while. I want to set it up in my sons room. Well, for most of the tanks past it was used for...well, a saltwater tank. But for a short period of time, it was used to house my wife's rats. They were probably in it for about 3 months or so. I've heard "theories" in the past that this can be bad to then reuse as a tank because of ammonia. So does anyone have any real info on this? Has it actually happened? I can't imagine that sealant would hold ammonia for that long. Especially since the tank hasn't been used for anything in probably about 3 years.

01/31/2008, 11:30 AM	#3
kimsie Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Columbia, IL Posts: 1,173	wish I could help - I've got nothing... __________________ -- Kim

01/31/2008, 11:35 AM	#4
Cope Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: In deep water (SLT CA) Posts: 595	I would think you will be ok, clean with white vinegar, rinse lather repeat, test for ammonia. if the test shows no ammonia then I think I would go for it. but I'm not the smartest guy on here. __________________ I must not fear. Fear is the mind-killer. Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration. I will face my fear. I will permit it to pass over me and through me. And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path. Where the fear has gone there will be nothing. Only I will remain. Current Tank Info: Soon to be 500 gallon mixed reef!

01/31/2008, 12:36 PM	#5
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	You can even wash it out with bleach. Just rinse it out really well and use a dechlorinator. __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

01/31/2008, 02:24 PM	#6
useskaforevil Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: kent, ohio Posts: 1,012	haha, if there is enough ammonia to matter you'll find out when you add the bleach __________________ "and the delicate mechanism stripped its gears" Current Tank Info: 80gallon bowfront

01/31/2008, 11:18 AM	#2
Milhouse Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Colorado Posts: 722	Bump. There's gotta be someone out there with experience with my problem.

01/31/2008, 02:45 PM	#7
sk8rreefgeek Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Lodi, California Posts: 1,352	for the amount of work and wondering "what if.." I'd just get a new tank. its only a 30g __________________ It's time for operation crazy-plan Current Tank Info: Drilled 55g, 14g sump, coralife 125 SS: mated pair of b&w misbar clowns, ywg

01/31/2008, 03:42 PM	#8
celano Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Illinois Posts: 910	Dont buy a new tank when you have a perfectly good one ready to go. My wife also kept mice...I called them vermin in a ten gallon tank that I now use as a qt. Just rinse it out good use a little vinegar to wipe it down and you should be set.

01/31/2008, 05:45 PM	#10
tigereye37 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: RI Posts: 191	I think the biggest concern with re-using a tank for fish after it was used to house reptiles or rodents is that they sometimes like to claw up the silicone in the corners weakening the structure. Just make sure the silicone is in good shape so it doesn't give way after it is full.....

01/31/2008, 07:04 PM	#11
2fishy Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Rhinelander, WI Posts: 918	I hope I didn't shock anyone with suggesting bleach. Before they had dechlorinators, people would let the water age, because bleach will disipate out of the water when left in an open container. __________________ Carole Current Tank Info: 55 gal

01/31/2008, 08:51 PM	#12
mfp4073 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Winter Park, FL Posts: 1,506	yeah, bleach will go away after time (old boy scout trick was to use bleach and let the water sit for 24 hours). I have a tank that I had rats in too. There were 2-3 in there for at least 2 years. They were not diggers. Working fine. If I felt bad, I would let it sit for several days with water in it to confirm water tightness and to "leech" back out anything in there. __________________ Bristle worms are evil and need to be eradicated, at night they creep out of the tank and charge internet porn to your credit cards....ask me how I know. Anyone else notice that anthelia smells like fresh cut water chestnuts? ....they call me chad Current Tank Info: 1 crashed 75 gal..it was really beautiful while it lasted.