Cleaning Tank to Start New

Frostslasher · 06/01/2014, 04:12 PM

Hello everyone,

I'm looking for some advice on taking my existing tank and starting over. I have a 75 gallon Aqueon reef-ready tank (internal overflow slightly offset to the middle left) that has been running for about a year. The reason I would like to start new is because I'd like to rework my aquascape and I've been dealing with a lot of algae problems. The algae issues have been a result of me overfeeding the tank when I first started, not having the right equipment, and not dipping my corals. I believe I've since identified these issues and would like a fresh start to correct my mistakes. In addition, I've purchased pukani rock and have been working on a new aquascape that I will be cycling separately in the next few weeks.

My question is, what is in your opinion the best way to go about cleaning the tank after draining all the water? Should I bleach the entire inside of the tank, use something less harmful such as vinegar, or a different solution? My main concern is the small space inbetween the internal overflow in which I cannot reach. I want to make sure to eliminate any form of life in the tank and overflow so I'm starting again with a blank canvas.

Any advice or experience is very much appreciated.

Motobuddy · 06/01/2014, 06:24 PM

I just recently bought a used 210g tank that was covered in coralline and other algae as well as some hard coral (i assume the 1/8 inch thick calcium circles were coral growth) I saw pictures of the tank running and it was very healthy. I wanted a fresh start much like you. I moved the tank into the garage where the tank would stay fairly warm since I am in FL then I cut PVC longer then the tank is deep and stuck it in the tank side of the bulkheads with just a very very small wipe of silicone to seal them. They turned right out when finished and did not leak during the process. Then I filled then overflows with about 1/4 full of distilled white vinegar then topped of the rest with tap water which here is full of chlorine here anyways. I then filled the rest of the tank with a couple gallons of the same vinegar and filled to the top seal with more tap. Then put in a return pump blowing across the bottoms and a couple old power heads . I let it sit for about 4-5 days skimming the top with a old fishnet to get the larger stuff out everyday. Drained, refilled with tap only, then scrubbed with soft sponges.

This really had good results on getting 90% of the left overs out and all but one spot of the coral growth. it has been rinsed a few times and is waiting on one last RODI rinse and wipe before it goes back in service. The main thing is , if it has been used for cleaning anything other then the aquarium don't use it. I bought new sponges and soaked and rinsed them very we'll to avoid any unknown chemicals getting in the tank. even all this probably only got out somewhere in the high 90% of the left overs . Hope it helps.

Stolireef · 06/01/2014, 06:34 PM

I just went through this between January and the end of March. Check out my build thread here
http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2365648
for how I handled the cleaning. To clean the overflow, I drained it, plugged it and added a couple of gallons of vinegar. Two days later, I siphoned out the vinegar and had a pretty clean overflow. For the tank itself, I sprayed vinegar on all surfaces and scraped everything down. So far, so good.

Frostslasher · 06/02/2014, 02:58 PM

Thank you for the advice Motobuddy and Stolireef. I think I'm going to go with the vinegar approach and just wash it down well and use a lot.

shelby28 · 06/02/2014, 03:11 PM

Yea I'd stay from using bleach any where near the tank iv heard it can trap it's self in the silicone corners and each out. Vinegar is the best way to go I prefer to just use it strait.

Stolireef · 06/02/2014, 03:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Frostslasher

Thank you for the advice Motobuddy and Stolireef. I think I'm going to go with the vinegar approach and just wash it down well and use a lot.

You'll be fine with that approach. Bleaching won't hurt anything if you are very thorough about rinsing but it also won't do anything positive so why bother.

06/01/2014, 04:12 PM	#1
Frostslasher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Central NY Posts: 77	Cleaning Tank to Start New Hello everyone, I'm looking for some advice on taking my existing tank and starting over. I have a 75 gallon Aqueon reef-ready tank (internal overflow slightly offset to the middle left) that has been running for about a year. The reason I would like to start new is because I'd like to rework my aquascape and I've been dealing with a lot of algae problems. The algae issues have been a result of me overfeeding the tank when I first started, not having the right equipment, and not dipping my corals. I believe I've since identified these issues and would like a fresh start to correct my mistakes. In addition, I've purchased pukani rock and have been working on a new aquascape that I will be cycling separately in the next few weeks. My question is, what is in your opinion the best way to go about cleaning the tank after draining all the water? Should I bleach the entire inside of the tank, use something less harmful such as vinegar, or a different solution? My main concern is the small space inbetween the internal overflow in which I cannot reach. I want to make sure to eliminate any form of life in the tank and overflow so I'm starting again with a blank canvas. Any advice or experience is very much appreciated.

06/01/2014, 06:34 PM	#3
Stolireef Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Scottsdale AZ Posts: 3,180 Blog Entries: 5	I just went through this between January and the end of March. Check out my build thread here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=2365648 for how I handled the cleaning. To clean the overflow, I drained it, plugged it and added a couple of gallons of vinegar. Two days later, I siphoned out the vinegar and had a pretty clean overflow. For the tank itself, I sprayed vinegar on all surfaces and scraped everything down. So far, so good. __________________ I want to burn twice as bright and half as long. Oh, and a full tank crash is just an excuse for a new build. Current Tank Info: 125 Rimless Leemar, Apex, Trigger 30 Elite Sump, Vertex 180i Skimmer, 2 X Gen4 Radion XR30W, BM Doser, 2xMP40WES, 2xTunze 6095, Sicce Syncra 4.0.

06/01/2014, 06:24 PM	#2
Motobuddy Registered Member Join Date: May 2014 Posts: 62	I just recently bought a used 210g tank that was covered in coralline and other algae as well as some hard coral (i assume the 1/8 inch thick calcium circles were coral growth) I saw pictures of the tank running and it was very healthy. I wanted a fresh start much like you. I moved the tank into the garage where the tank would stay fairly warm since I am in FL then I cut PVC longer then the tank is deep and stuck it in the tank side of the bulkheads with just a very very small wipe of silicone to seal them. They turned right out when finished and did not leak during the process. Then I filled then overflows with about 1/4 full of distilled white vinegar then topped of the rest with tap water which here is full of chlorine here anyways. I then filled the rest of the tank with a couple gallons of the same vinegar and filled to the top seal with more tap. Then put in a return pump blowing across the bottoms and a couple old power heads . I let it sit for about 4-5 days skimming the top with a old fishnet to get the larger stuff out everyday. Drained, refilled with tap only, then scrubbed with soft sponges. This really had good results on getting 90% of the left overs out and all but one spot of the coral growth. it has been rinsed a few times and is waiting on one last RODI rinse and wipe before it goes back in service. The main thing is , if it has been used for cleaning anything other then the aquarium don't use it. I bought new sponges and soaked and rinsed them very we'll to avoid any unknown chemicals getting in the tank. even all this probably only got out somewhere in the high 90% of the left overs . Hope it helps.

06/02/2014, 02:58 PM	#4
Frostslasher Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2013 Location: Central NY Posts: 77	Thank you for the advice Motobuddy and Stolireef. I think I'm going to go with the vinegar approach and just wash it down well and use a lot.

06/02/2014, 03:11 PM	#5
shelby28 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: so_cal Posts: 52	Yea I'd stay from using bleach any where near the tank iv heard it can trap it's self in the silicone corners and each out. Vinegar is the best way to go I prefer to just use it strait.