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Any ideas on how to clean a used 75 gal.tank? Once I have it on the stand that I just made it's time to clean the inside and check for leaks. I cleaned out all the dust from old gravel that was in it with a small brush and dust pan. But the question is what should I use to clean and disinfect it? I read somewhere that ammonia can be used,and that what is left after all the water is drained and refilled will cycle out during the cycling process. I had planned on filling and draining it a few times before I fill and begin the cycling. Also if this will work like I just discribed,how much ammonia should I use? Any other ideas would be welcomed. Thank you and Happy Holidays to all.

i used a vinegar and water solution to clean the very nasty used tank i had.

i would stay away from the household cleaners, unless you are talking about a straight ammonia. the vinegar does a decent job of dis infecting and it busts through algea. if you go through and scrub with water after that, fill and empty a few times, you should be good to go.

if you use straight ammonia, which will be reasonably hard to get, i wouldnt use very much, and i would rinse the tank out like there was no tomarrow. theoreticaly it should be neatralised after the cycle, but cleaning a tank with chemicals scares me to be honest

Thanks for the fast reply rerun, what ratio should I use,and should I use white vinegar?

Is there something specifically on the aquarium or is it just dingy from years of sitting around? I used ammonia when I had to clean my tank. I didn't necessarily measure out how much I used but it was very dilute. On the other hand, I was using lab. grade ammonia too and that's quite concentrated. Beware though, don't use too concentrated (right out of the bottle) of stuff or you'll eat away at the seals a bit.

I've also used VERY dilute bleach before and then rinsed for a long long time but I wouldn't suggest that unless you really want to spend your next week rinsing

-Josh

what he said, it can be used, just with caution. if all you are trying to do is clean up gunk and algae and kill germs, i would say a 50% mix of vinegar and water. any vinegar should be ok as long as there isnt adatives to it other than the vinegar (i.e you can get apple vinegar and junk like that). the vinegar worked great on the tank i had in cunjunction with a algea scrubbing pad. i had over 1cm of hardened green algae (it had been 6 months since the tank had been cleaned other than occasional water changes and it sat in front of a window!!!!) and that algae was ENCRUSTED to that tank,LOL.

whatever you use, rinse rinse rinse! and make sure it isnt too harse, cause as he mentioned, seals can be comprimised by too much chemical not enough water

edit: also note that vinegar is great for eating up odors,such as the lovely fishy poo smell that comes from lack of cleaning. once you rid yourself of the vinegar scent your tank wont have any smell, and trust me, a few water rinses to rid yourself of vinegar smell is alot less work than the rinsing required to use bleach

Last edited by reun at 24-Dec-2005 19:22

If you are going to use vinegar you want to use Distilled White Vinegar...You can buy a bottle REALLY cheap at walmart or similar place

Last edited by jmara at 24-Dec-2005 19:23

-Josh

The tank has been sitting around for a while,and had alot of dried stuff on it.It was a fresh water tank that was not cleaned when drained and stored in the garage.I think I'll go with the distilled white vinegar.Thanks to all that responded.Merry Christmas.cjp.

White Vinegar & Water & then give it a good wash & remember to check it for any leaks.


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I would be very concerned about how long it had been dry and what conditions it had been kept in. There is a very good possibility that the silicone coud be dry and the glass could also become very brittle.

After you have cleaned it fill it up with water on a very level surface and certainly not inside and leave it for at least a week.

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I'll have to take my chances on testing it indoors in my basement as it is winter here in Ohio.I made a stand out of cement blocks and 2x4's with 3/4 inch plywood under the tank.I don't like that when it was built they did not use alot of silicone in the corners.I'm going to apply more to the corners after I clean it,and put on the stand,rinse well and then fill it.But I'll have to let the silicone cure before that happens.Anyway it will stay in my fish room in the basement.I hope all goes well.Thanks again to all the replies.

You know those polystyrene foam ceiling tiles that were de rigeur for decorating kitchens in the 1970s? Get a heap of those to spread and equalise the weight before you test.

They're standard issue over here in the UK with ALL aquaria for ensuring that there's no stress on the glass once the aquarium is sited. Get a decent number of them and with a 75, stack them in two or three layers so that you have plenty of 'give' in the foam to equalise the stresses.


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