Breakdown of tank...

GCI · 07/22/2010, 12:02 PM

I have a 110gal tank [48L x 18W x 30H] that needs a total re-do! Because of recent personal situations the tank has been neglected to a point where it is in horrible shape. Originally set up about 5 years ago, I'm now down to rock and sand. Red algae and other assorted 'growth' have taken over, not to mention that my water is way out of sync and the sand and rock are no longer 'live'. No fish left. Now that things are on the 'mend' I have the time to invest in starting fresh. I would like to drain the tank [inclusive of a 35gal sump], clean it, replace the sand and rock and keep ONE fish. I'm thinking of a Trigger, but that's putting the horse before the cart at this point. I am sun-bleaching my original rock [I like the shape of it and will use it as a base] and have intentions of replacing the exhaused sand with new live sand. A couple of new live rocks should be enough to 'seed' the tank and I'll cycle it as if starting new. My sump contains bioballs [well, actually plastic hair curlers!] and a poly floss filter as well as a protein skimmer, all which have served me well. The question: Any suggestions on throughly cleaning the tank? I've heard numerous stories about bleach, vinegar, muriatic acid and just plain water. All suggestions quite confusing and potentially disasterous. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your responses!

snarkes · 07/22/2010, 12:08 PM

You can use straight vinegar to help clean everything up and loosen buildup then just rinse it out. Works great.

danno23 · 07/22/2010, 01:23 PM

Straight vinegar, and then scrape it down with a razor blade, then rinse.

Conrad25 · 07/22/2010, 01:57 PM

Vinegar is the only way to go. NEVER use bleach as its such a big risk that it gets back into your system. Especially with rock as it soaks it up and you never know if you truely got it all out.......

Conrad

GCI · 07/22/2010, 02:26 PM

Maybe I failed to mention that I was going to empty the tank of rock and sand. Just the 'nasty' water will remain. Should I add vinegar to the existing water and allow it to circulate OR drain the tank and sump and wash with vinegar, rinse and drain again?

M88A2 · 07/22/2010, 05:26 PM

i recieved a tank that had the rock work and sand taken out and all i did was take some vinigar, soak a cloth in it and applied it gernerously everywhere (event over everything 2x). then i waited 20min and got the cloth again and wiped everything down with the vinigar fromt he bottom of the tank. i scraped everthing down with a razor and washed the tank down with the hose. the i rinsed it all out with a bath of RO/DI water 2x. worked great for me. just make sure u go over teh parts of the glass that look clean too. there is def gonna be something there when u run the razor threw it

GCI · 07/25/2010, 09:05 AM

Thanks to all for the responses. Took your advice and went with the vinegar. Worked quite well and pleased with results. On to the next step.....

rayn · 07/25/2010, 09:36 AM

See, now you have to change this thread to build up of new tank!

johnike · 07/25/2010, 10:04 AM

Good luck with the reconstruction! rayn, hello Pekin!!

07/22/2010, 12:02 PM	#1
GCI Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoFla Posts: 54	Breakdown of tank... I have a 110gal tank [48L x 18W x 30H] that needs a total re-do! Because of recent personal situations the tank has been neglected to a point where it is in horrible shape. Originally set up about 5 years ago, I'm now down to rock and sand. Red algae and other assorted 'growth' have taken over, not to mention that my water is way out of sync and the sand and rock are no longer 'live'. No fish left. Now that things are on the 'mend' I have the time to invest in starting fresh. I would like to drain the tank [inclusive of a 35gal sump], clean it, replace the sand and rock and keep ONE fish. I'm thinking of a Trigger, but that's putting the horse before the cart at this point. I am sun-bleaching my original rock [I like the shape of it and will use it as a base] and have intentions of replacing the exhaused sand with new live sand. A couple of new live rocks should be enough to 'seed' the tank and I'll cycle it as if starting new. My sump contains bioballs [well, actually plastic hair curlers!] and a poly floss filter as well as a protein skimmer, all which have served me well. The question: Any suggestions on throughly cleaning the tank? I've heard numerous stories about bleach, vinegar, muriatic acid and just plain water. All suggestions quite confusing and potentially disasterous. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your responses!

07/25/2010, 09:36 AM	#8
rayn Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Pekin, Il Posts: 2,864	See, now you have to change this thread to build up of new tank! __________________ Currently changing, stay tuned for new details...

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07/22/2010, 12:08 PM	#2
snarkes Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Atlanta, GA Posts: 479	You can use straight vinegar to help clean everything up and loosen buildup then just rinse it out. Works great.

07/22/2010, 01:23 PM	#3
danno23 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Posts: 53	Straight vinegar, and then scrape it down with a razor blade, then rinse.

07/22/2010, 01:57 PM	#4
Conrad25 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Milwaukee, WI Posts: 556	Vinegar is the only way to go. NEVER use bleach as its such a big risk that it gets back into your system. Especially with rock as it soaks it up and you never know if you truely got it all out....... Conrad

07/22/2010, 02:26 PM	#5
GCI Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoFla Posts: 54	Maybe I failed to mention that I was going to empty the tank of rock and sand. Just the 'nasty' water will remain. Should I add vinegar to the existing water and allow it to circulate OR drain the tank and sump and wash with vinegar, rinse and drain again?

07/22/2010, 05:26 PM	#6
M88A2 Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Chesapeake, VA Posts: 682	i recieved a tank that had the rock work and sand taken out and all i did was take some vinigar, soak a cloth in it and applied it gernerously everywhere (event over everything 2x). then i waited 20min and got the cloth again and wiped everything down with the vinigar fromt he bottom of the tank. i scraped everthing down with a razor and washed the tank down with the hose. the i rinsed it all out with a bath of RO/DI water 2x. worked great for me. just make sure u go over teh parts of the glass that look clean too. there is def gonna be something there when u run the razor threw it

07/25/2010, 09:05 AM	#7
GCI Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: SoFla Posts: 54	Thanks to all for the responses. Took your advice and went with the vinegar. Worked quite well and pleased with results. On to the next step.....

07/25/2010, 10:04 AM	#9
johnike Moved On Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Bureau County Illinois Posts: 5,406	Good luck with the reconstruction! rayn, hello Pekin!!