Tank cleaning regimen

alexkharden · 01/21/2016, 03:21 PM

So the 75g I'll be using for a sump/fuge, and the 20g I'll be using for a qt, we're both gotten used. At the place I got them from they were stored outside, and subsequently had dirt and leaves and stagnant water and things like that in them.

So here's what I've done to prepare them for usage. I scrubbed them out thoroughly with Dawn and hot water. Then I filled them up with 10% distilled white vinegar and water and left them sit for 48 hours. This allowed me to leak check them and, before I emptied them out, I was able to scrub them down with clean rags to remove any hard water build up. Then I siphoned them out, rinsed them, and the sprayed them with a 10% bleach solution. I left the bleach on for an hour, and then I rinsed, rinsed, and rinsed again - wiping with a clean rag while I was rinsing.

Now they're both drying. Before I use them for anything fish related, I want to make sure I've done enough to prep them. I've read that residual chlorine evaporates off after a while, but I don't know how long.

So have I done enough to make these safe? Something else I need to do? And how long should I leave them sitting dry before they're safe for reef use?

Thanks!

01/21/2016, 03:21 PM	#1
alexkharden Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Evansville, Indiana Posts: 336	Tank cleaning regimen So the 75g I'll be using for a sump/fuge, and the 20g I'll be using for a qt, we're both gotten used. At the place I got them from they were stored outside, and subsequently had dirt and leaves and stagnant water and things like that in them. So here's what I've done to prepare them for usage. I scrubbed them out thoroughly with Dawn and hot water. Then I filled them up with 10% distilled white vinegar and water and left them sit for 48 hours. This allowed me to leak check them and, before I emptied them out, I was able to scrub them down with clean rags to remove any hard water build up. Then I siphoned them out, rinsed them, and the sprayed them with a 10% bleach solution. I left the bleach on for an hour, and then I rinsed, rinsed, and rinsed again - wiping with a clean rag while I was rinsing. Now they're both drying. Before I use them for anything fish related, I want to make sure I've done enough to prep them. I've read that residual chlorine evaporates off after a while, but I don't know how long. So have I done enough to make these safe? Something else I need to do? And how long should I leave them sitting dry before they're safe for reef use? Thanks!