Anyybody ever hear of Bleaching the tank??

trigger:) · 01/14/2010, 08:54 PM

I was using my 58 to mix water changes for my 180 the tank was empty except for 2 pieces of rock and crushed coral. I got ich in my 180! Then I noticed little white spots on the glass in the 58 ( thinking it was parasites eating the alge on the glass). I asked a LFS what I should do ( I had planned to dump the tank and start over again anyway). He suggested a cup of bleach, so I added it. Has anybody ever heard of this? I have done 3 fresh water changes and plan to take out the crushed coral and rock and start the tank cycling again ( i will do 2 more freshwater changes once the crushed coral and rock are out). I'm using a wet/dry with bio balls/skimmer/uv, Looking for advise? thanks

sedor · 01/14/2010, 08:56 PM

You can use bleach to clean the tank. But not with substrate, rock etc in it!

terri_ann · 01/14/2010, 09:11 PM

Had you had any fish in the tank? I have not heard of a tank having ich when it was fallow unless there had recently been fish in it. Ich needs a host to survive. Anyway, yes bleach has been used in bare tanks before. I suggest you remove everything from the tank and use a dechlorinator such as Amquel. I would also let the tank dry thoroughly before starting it up again. As a precaution, after filling it with RO/DI saltwater, I would again add Amquel.

As far as the bioballs, I would not use them as they will collect detritus and lead to a nitrate problem. No harm in starting your tank over again...just take your time and let it cycle before adding any aquaria. Good luck!

trigger:) · 01/14/2010, 09:28 PM

Yes there were fish in it maybe a month before I noticed the white spots on the glass. They weren't any kind of pods, they weren't moving. Will Stress Coat do? I use that with water changes now? thanks

MandM · 01/14/2010, 09:51 PM

Most importantly, find a local reef club or forum here on RC for advice. Don't go back to the knucklehead that told you to pour bleach in your tank. He was being either sarcastic, malicious or dangerously stupid.

No on the stress coat. Like Terri ann said, start over with everything dry and use a dechlorinating agent like Amquel. Letting everything dry out will kill any ich or other parasites. When you start up the new system, leave it with no fish until you have established a chlorine-free and healthy tank. When you do get fish, follow strict QT practices to keep pests out of your display tank.

I doubt that what you had on the glass was a parasite, probably a slow-moving copepod or tiny limpet.

scottwhitson · 01/14/2010, 10:48 PM

Yes I have heard of, and have used bleach to kill rock that was infested with aiptasia and majano anemones. Just let the rock dry and then use a declorinator as suggested.

Salamander · 01/14/2010, 11:23 PM

The spots you saw were likely tiny little feather dusters. You won't see ich on the glass.

lordofthereef · 01/15/2010, 01:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Salamander

The spots you saw were likely tiny little feather dusters. You won't see ich on the glass.

Either that, or frequently snail eggs. Another way to get rid of ich is to simply let the tank fallow (basically remove your critters from it and let it sit for 6-8 weeks.

01/14/2010, 08:54 PM	#1
trigger:) Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ct Posts: 69	Anyybody ever hear of Bleaching the tank?? I was using my 58 to mix water changes for my 180 the tank was empty except for 2 pieces of rock and crushed coral. I got ich in my 180! Then I noticed little white spots on the glass in the 58 ( thinking it was parasites eating the alge on the glass). I asked a LFS what I should do ( I had planned to dump the tank and start over again anyway). He suggested a cup of bleach, so I added it. Has anybody ever heard of this? I have done 3 fresh water changes and plan to take out the crushed coral and rock and start the tank cycling again ( i will do 2 more freshwater changes once the crushed coral and rock are out). I'm using a wet/dry with bio balls/skimmer/uv, Looking for advise? thanks

01/14/2010, 08:56 PM	#2
sedor Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Charlotte, NC Posts: 4,689	You can use bleach to clean the tank. But not with substrate, rock etc in it! __________________ Ryan

01/14/2010, 09:11 PM	#3
terri_ann Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Marshalltown, IA Posts: 841	Had you had any fish in the tank? I have not heard of a tank having ich when it was fallow unless there had recently been fish in it. Ich needs a host to survive. Anyway, yes bleach has been used in bare tanks before. I suggest you remove everything from the tank and use a dechlorinator such as Amquel. I would also let the tank dry thoroughly before starting it up again. As a precaution, after filling it with RO/DI saltwater, I would again add Amquel. As far as the bioballs, I would not use them as they will collect detritus and lead to a nitrate problem. No harm in starting your tank over again...just take your time and let it cycle before adding any aquaria. Good luck! __________________ Happy Reefing!! :) Current Tank Info: 180g mixed 40B Anemone 5' raceway frag tank

01/14/2010, 09:51 PM	#5
MandM sick yet brilliant Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Sacramento Posts: 1,497	Most importantly, find a local reef club or forum here on RC for advice. Don't go back to the knucklehead that told you to pour bleach in your tank. He was being either sarcastic, malicious or dangerously stupid. No on the stress coat. Like Terri ann said, start over with everything dry and use a dechlorinating agent like Amquel. Letting everything dry out will kill any ich or other parasites. When you start up the new system, leave it with no fish until you have established a chlorine-free and healthy tank. When you do get fish, follow strict QT practices to keep pests out of your display tank. I doubt that what you had on the glass was a parasite, probably a slow-moving copepod or tiny limpet. __________________ Sheila I was emo when emo wasn't cool If your not part of the solution, you're part of the precipitate. Current Tank Info: 120g, 8g

01/14/2010, 11:23 PM	#7
Salamander Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Flagstaff, Arizona Posts: 2,103	The spots you saw were likely tiny little feather dusters. You won't see ich on the glass. __________________ I feel more like myself now than I did before. Current Tank Info: 120g mixed reef, 2 x 250W DE MH, 2 x 54w T5, MSX 200 SKimmer, 2 Koralia 4's, 40g fuge/sump, QT

01/14/2010, 09:28 PM	#4
trigger:) Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: ct Posts: 69	Yes there were fish in it maybe a month before I noticed the white spots on the glass. They weren't any kind of pods, they weren't moving. Will Stress Coat do? I use that with water changes now? thanks

01/14/2010, 10:48 PM	#6
scottwhitson Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Lewiston, Idaho Posts: 1,395	Yes I have heard of, and have used bleach to kill rock that was infested with aiptasia and majano anemones. Just let the rock dry and then use a declorinator as suggested.