Cleaning a former fresh water tank

RichardPryor · 02/10/2008, 02:57 PM

My buddy gave me a 10g tank since he's no longer using it. He had FW fish about two years ago, and it's been sitting in his garage full of pebbles since then.

I tok it home, put it in the bathtub, washed the glas with my hand and hot water and then left it for 48 hours with 90% water 10% vinegar.

Is it safe to use already or do I need to do something else?

Thx

Aquarist007 · 02/10/2008, 03:26 PM

no the vinegar is what is normally recommended to use to scrub a tank, so it is safe to use

Wett Hands · 02/10/2008, 03:35 PM

Was the tank ever treated with copper?

RichardPryor · 02/10/2008, 04:06 PM

Hope not. What disseases would've made him dose with copper?

ahullsb · 02/10/2008, 05:34 PM

Many people dose copper for parasites such as ich, and some even dose copper in a qt tank before adding a new fish to the display. On that note, many Fish stores run copper in their fish tanks 24/7, which is another reason never to add their water to your tank.

If you are just using the 10 gallon for a fish QT tank, it doesn't really matter whether copper has been dosed or not. It's corals and inverts that can't handle it

baldomero · 02/10/2008, 08:28 PM

it was a fresh water tank and 10 gallons most likely he didnt use copper

02/10/2008, 02:57 PM	#1
RichardPryor Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 135	Cleaning a former fresh water tank My buddy gave me a 10g tank since he's no longer using it. He had FW fish about two years ago, and it's been sitting in his garage full of pebbles since then. I tok it home, put it in the bathtub, washed the glas with my hand and hot water and then left it for 48 hours with 90% water 10% vinegar. Is it safe to use already or do I need to do something else? Thx

02/10/2008, 03:26 PM	#2
Aquarist007 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Hamilton, Canada Posts: 28,240 Blog Entries: 1	no the vinegar is what is normally recommended to use to scrub a tank, so it is safe to use __________________ I prefer my substrates stirred but not shaken Current Tank Info: 150gal long mixed reef, 90gal sump, 60 gal refugium with 200 lbs live rock

02/10/2008, 03:35 PM	#3
Wett Hands Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: WNY Posts: 297	Was the tank ever treated with copper? __________________ "But since your going the other way. I'm afraid, you're going have to get scared... immediately. Current Tank Info: One 10gal, Two 20H FW Planted tanks, 27gal hex BW, 75gal Reef, 3gal Pico Tank

02/10/2008, 05:34 PM	#5
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	Many people dose copper for parasites such as ich, and some even dose copper in a qt tank before adding a new fish to the display. On that note, many Fish stores run copper in their fish tanks 24/7, which is another reason never to add their water to your tank. If you are just using the 10 gallon for a fish QT tank, it doesn't really matter whether copper has been dosed or not. It's corals and inverts that can't handle it __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

02/10/2008, 04:06 PM	#4
RichardPryor Registered Member. Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 135	Hope not. What disseases would've made him dose with copper?

02/10/2008, 08:28 PM	#6
baldomero Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: aguada,puerto rico Posts: 902	it was a fresh water tank and 10 gallons most likely he didnt use copper