Selling aquarium, how should I clean it out?

gummyworms · 12/14/2009, 10:05 AM

Hello,

I am unfortunately selling my aquarium, and I was wondering what is the best way to clean off my equipment?

Was thinking about adding a gallon of vinegar to my 80 gallon system and running that for a few hours. This seems to work in my skimmer, but I wanted to double check before I do it and ruin something!

What is the best way to get everything nice and clean?

Thanks!

mcoomer · 12/14/2009, 10:23 AM

I think most people go the vinegar route just as you're looking at doing.

Mike

tangdiver · 12/14/2009, 10:26 AM

+1 on Vinegar or be careful and use Meratic Acid, but dulite it down alot and use I protection.

Good luck...

John&Steph · 12/14/2009, 11:44 AM

Why not just advertise and sell it as a package. Leave it up and running for them

Chiefsurfer · 12/14/2009, 11:54 AM

yeah, some people like to buy it all running. You can probably also get some extra coin for proof of containing water, and the already cycled stuff, and LR and what not.

If it's already broken down, go for the vinegar. I manually scrubbed out my 55 when I got it(not set up for other reasons) and it was a PITA, but free is free. I used a new sponge added vinegar to the sponge, scrubbed, more vinegar, more scrubbing, water rinse, soak up, nother water wash, done. BIG PITA. I have heard running 1 gallon of vinegar through your system for a few days does a pretty good job. At the very least, you can then just go in and wipe it off with paper towels.

BANANAHANDS · 12/14/2009, 12:19 PM

IME depending on how dirty your setup is, its going to take more than one gallon of vinegar in 80g of water. I can't remember the suggested ratio, I'm sure you can find it in one of the threads here. HTH, good luck

12/14/2009, 10:05 AM	#1
gummyworms Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 205	Selling aquarium, how should I clean it out? Hello, I am unfortunately selling my aquarium, and I was wondering what is the best way to clean off my equipment? Was thinking about adding a gallon of vinegar to my 80 gallon system and running that for a few hours. This seems to work in my skimmer, but I wanted to double check before I do it and ruin something! What is the best way to get everything nice and clean? Thanks!

12/14/2009, 10:23 AM	#2
mcoomer Rat Bastard! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Sammamish, WA Posts: 1,487	I think most people go the vinegar route just as you're looking at doing. Mike __________________ Spending exorbitant amounts of money on this hobby since 1998! My wife thought the tank would be cheaper and easier to keep than a dog...no seriously! Current Tank Info: 180 gallon mixed reef; Reeflo Barracuda, Tunze 6105 (X3), 250W Radiums with dual HQI Blue Wave 7, Reefkeeper Elite controller, custom sump with ASM G4, carbon and GFO reactors

12/14/2009, 10:26 AM	#3
tangdiver Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Sioux Falls South Dakota Posts: 1,231	+1 on Vinegar or be careful and use Meratic Acid, but dulite it down alot and use I protection. Good luck... __________________ Its unwise to pay to much or to little When U pay to much U lose a little $ When U pay to little U sometimes lose it all because the thing U bought was incapable of doing the thing U bought it to do Current Tank Info: 6' long, 3' wide, 2' high, My tank is not worthy of Tank of the Month

12/14/2009, 11:44 AM	#4
John&Steph Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 185	Why not just advertise and sell it as a package. Leave it up and running for them

12/14/2009, 11:54 AM	#5
Chiefsurfer Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Seaside Park, NJ Posts: 2,138	yeah, some people like to buy it all running. You can probably also get some extra coin for proof of containing water, and the already cycled stuff, and LR and what not. If it's already broken down, go for the vinegar. I manually scrubbed out my 55 when I got it(not set up for other reasons) and it was a PITA, but free is free. I used a new sponge added vinegar to the sponge, scrubbed, more vinegar, more scrubbing, water rinse, soak up, nother water wash, done. BIG PITA. I have heard running 1 gallon of vinegar through your system for a few days does a pretty good job. At the very least, you can then just go in and wipe it off with paper towels.

12/14/2009, 12:19 PM	#6
BANANAHANDS Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Gilbert, AZ Posts: 116	IME depending on how dirty your setup is, its going to take more than one gallon of vinegar in 80g of water. I can't remember the suggested ratio, I'm sure you can find it in one of the threads here. HTH, good luck