Does Bleach Discolor or Haze Acrylic Tank?

Chrisk-K · 03/12/2010, 09:54 PM

I need to disinfect a Seaclear 40g acrylic tank. I wonder if a 5-10% bleach solution may discolor the tank.

I've gooled and some say bleach is safe and others say bleach discolors or hazes acrylic.

Do you think H2O2 is safer than bleach for acrylic?

sdc19982002 · 03/12/2010, 10:00 PM

I would personaly use vinegar instead of bleach. Are you truly disinfecting or just cleaning it.

Chrisk-K · 03/12/2010, 10:04 PM

I'm disinfecting. I want to kill all bacteria and parasites in there. It was a goldfish tank.

sdc19982002 · 03/12/2010, 10:13 PM

I dont see any reason a vinegar bath wouldnt do it. I'm sure others will chime in though.

bertoni · 03/12/2010, 10:22 PM

I'd just wipe it well with vinegar. Freshwater bacteria and pests won't survive in a saltwater system, anyway. The vinegar will remove medicines and is likely to kill a lot of microbes. Just be sure to get any calcium carbonate deposits.

That strong of a bleach solution might damage acrylic, or not, I'm not sure.

sgiordano · 03/12/2010, 10:33 PM

Dont do bleach, hydrogen peroxide in a 3% solution is fine, as well as ammonia and iodine. Needless to say, dont mix these with hopes of the next super disinfectant, I'm no chemist but last time someone mixed bleach with ammonia we got Chlorine Gas, used in WW1 and 2 as a chemical agent

Chrisk-K · 03/12/2010, 10:48 PM

Yeah, I'm leaning toward H2O2. I have an unopened bottle.

lordofthereef · 03/13/2010, 12:41 AM

My understanding is that ammonia will cause crazing/yellowing.... FWIW I used a bleach solution and it didn't hurt anything.

sgiordano · 03/13/2010, 01:01 AM

Bleach can degrade plastics like acrylic, ammonia and iodine happened to fall into the categories of a disinfectant and safe with polymers. I suggested H2O2 as well because it is a known disinfectant and will not react with polymers, in low concentrations. Bleach probably works but hydrogen peroxide becomes harmless when diluted in water and can actually release o2 into the water when exposed to certain catalysts

03/12/2010, 09:54 PM	#1
Chrisk-K Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Does Bleach Discolor or Haze Acrylic Tank? I need to disinfect a Seaclear 40g acrylic tank. I wonder if a 5-10% bleach solution may discolor the tank. I've gooled and some say bleach is safe and others say bleach discolors or hazes acrylic. Do you think H2O2 is safer than bleach for acrylic?

03/12/2010, 10:22 PM	#5
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	I'd just wipe it well with vinegar. Freshwater bacteria and pests won't survive in a saltwater system, anyway. The vinegar will remove medicines and is likely to kill a lot of microbes. Just be sure to get any calcium carbonate deposits. That strong of a bleach solution might damage acrylic, or not, I'm not sure. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

03/13/2010, 12:41 AM	#8
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	My understanding is that ammonia will cause crazing/yellowing.... FWIW I used a bleach solution and it didn't hurt anything. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

03/12/2010, 10:00 PM	#2
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	I would personaly use vinegar instead of bleach. Are you truly disinfecting or just cleaning it.

03/12/2010, 10:04 PM	#3
Chrisk-K Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	I'm disinfecting. I want to kill all bacteria and parasites in there. It was a goldfish tank.

03/12/2010, 10:13 PM	#4
sdc19982002 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Wills Point,Texas Posts: 925	I dont see any reason a vinegar bath wouldnt do it. I'm sure others will chime in though.

03/12/2010, 10:33 PM	#6
sgiordano Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 53	Dont do bleach, hydrogen peroxide in a 3% solution is fine, as well as ammonia and iodine. Needless to say, dont mix these with hopes of the next super disinfectant, I'm no chemist but last time someone mixed bleach with ammonia we got Chlorine Gas, used in WW1 and 2 as a chemical agent

03/12/2010, 10:48 PM	#7
Chrisk-K Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 6	Yeah, I'm leaning toward H2O2. I have an unopened bottle.

03/13/2010, 01:01 AM	#9
sgiordano Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Gainesville, Fl Posts: 53	Bleach can degrade plastics like acrylic, ammonia and iodine happened to fall into the categories of a disinfectant and safe with polymers. I suggested H2O2 as well because it is a known disinfectant and will not react with polymers, in low concentrations. Bleach probably works but hydrogen peroxide becomes harmless when diluted in water and can actually release o2 into the water when exposed to certain catalysts