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After a recent fish loss I am stripping down the tank for disinfect it. I will be throwing what I can and will boil the gravel but can anyone recommend a way of sterilising the other parts (filters etc) and the tank itself before I rebuild? I shall be replacing the filter sponges and will cycle the tank again before the new resident is purchased.

I obviously need something which won't kill any fish if there are traces left after washing (tank is a 55).

Availble in the UK also required.

Maybe a mild bleach solution, but rinse carefully.
Some antibiotics to treat bacteria maybe.......

I obviously need something which won't kill any fish if there are traces left after washing

Well the right attitude is try not to leave anything behind

Best of luck!!!

Bleach is the only think I know of that will thoroughly kill out any bacteria left in the tank. If you can put the tank outside in a sunny location, wipe it out with a mixture of one cup bleach to one gallon water, rinsing well, then leave it out to air for a day or two. You can also rinse it out with a bit of standard tank water declorinator, mixed with plain water, after you bleach it.

I would replace the gravel instead of boiling it. It could still have bacteria lerking in it, and it is a lot easier to replace than to try to clean.

Kitty,

A bleach solution of one part bleach with 19 parts of water is perfect for disinfecting the tank. Use an old toothbrush to scrub tank seams and corners and a plain cloth towel to wipe down the glass. Soak other parts for 15 to 30 minutes.

Rinse thoroughly with fresh water. When you are ready to reassemble the tank and parts use a double dose of your dechlorinating agent to be sure to eliminate any residual bleach traces.



__________
"To steal ideas from one person is plagiarism; to steal from many is research."
researched from Steven Wright

If you can find it, the venerable Innes book recommends potassium permanganate. Comes in vials of deep purple crystals, and turns the water deep purple when it dissolves. It's a powerful oxidising agent, which in smaller doses can be used to disinfect plants, but which in larger doses is an effective sterilisation agent too. It also has the distinct advantage that it isn't persistent - a couple of good rinses afterwards and the tank is safe for use again.

In the past, it was used as an anti-protozoan medication in hospital aquaria, but dosages had to be controlled carefully if used thus, because it can be dangerous to fishes unless exposure is strictly controlled.

This page describes its use in ponds in some detail.

As an oxidising agent, it is also a bactericide. So if you ever decide to use it for treating certain fish diseases, do NOT use it in an aquarium with an established biological filter, as the filter bacteria will be wiped out. For fish treatment, use ONLY in bare hospital aquaria.

As a steriliser for your aquarium once it is empty of fishes, however, it is safer than bleach. For one thing, the intense colour of even a mild solution allows you to determine with ease when you've rinsed it all out.

Exercise some care with its usage though. It will oxidise organic material readily - that includes your skin!


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

Thank you all for your suggestions and I think I will be going with a combination of them all.

Bleach for the things which I can soak in a bucket and rinse until I have used all the water in the county but Potassium permanganate for the tank itself as if a tiny trace remained it wouldn't kill the fish. Also KMnO4 is easily obtained her from a pharmacy.

Sadly replacing the gravel is more than I can afford at the moment and I believe putting it in a pot (half full) and boiling for a hour should do it.

Or I will have to get the tank outside somehow (55Gal) so I can rinse by hose.

Do I need to find a "plain" bleach which is unscented? Or will normal bathroom bleach do?

How about baby's bottle steriliser (OH uses it for sodastream bottles)

Given that the steriliser compounds used for baby bottles have to be certified safe in case humans accidentally consume small quantities because they're not properly rinsed out, I'd say that they would be safe for aquarium use, though I'd make sure that every last trace was rinsed out.

That's probably going to be an expensive solution though, because nursery steriliser compounds have had to be tested exhaustively for safety, and the price climbs as a consequence. However, this also depends upon the concentration of the solution, and whether you are required to apply it undiluted or not.

Potassium permanganate is going to be cheaper, because the vial of crystals you'll get at the chemist will last you for years. Just be sure to keep the crystals out of direct sunlight, and ideally in a light sealed container, because they degrade when exposed to UV light.


Panda Catfish fan and keeper/breeder since Christmas 2002

I was thinking a bucket of steriliser for my filter and heaters really, not for the whole tank. 1 tablet produces 2 litres of liquid and the tank is 240L which is a lot of tablets.