FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I found a 45 gallon tank that's on ebay that was used as a salt water tank. I was just wondering if there's a special way to clean it so it can be used as a fresh water tank.

The person says that they'll clean it when the auction closes for the winner. But you know how that goes

I really don't think that there is really any "special way to clean it". I would use a mild type of soap and rise it out really well then work on cycling the water. After that you should be good to go!

But I do have a question for you... Are you just getting the tank or does it come w/other stuff? If it comes with other stuff, then this may change everything....

Here's the link. I haven't won it yet I'm just curious.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=4312007009&ssPageName=STRK:MEBI:IT

Sweet! I live in the same city as that guy! Ya don't mind if I bid do you?

Just kidding, I'm nowhere remotely near there, lol.

hmm..i've heard that bleach works well.....for cleaning the tank out that is, just make sure you like, wash it out loads, and loads, and loads and loads, and loads and loads, and loads of times..got that?

www.zopilotemachine.com

My 29g was used. I created a bleach solution of 1/10 bleach to water and used it to wash the insides of the tank. Then i washed it out with water 6 times. Everything worked out great.

Bleach is a necessary evil in most "used" tanks, as you don't know what sort of mayhem took place in that tank prior to your acquisition. It's the ultimate in sanitization, but faulters a bit as a cleaner, imo.

For cleaning , try this trick I use. Tea Tree Oil from the pharmacy at the department store..comes in a 2 0z. bottle. Pour about 1/3 of the bottle into a 32 oz spray bottle ( from gardening section), fill the rest of the way with water. It will smell like melafix becuase it's the active ingredient in melafix. So far I have not found any buildups or stains I could not remove on glass with it. It's a good sanitizer in its own right, but I use bleach for that and the tea tree oil for cleaning As with bleach, rinse thoroughly.

why not just use ammonia to clean it?

It wolnt harm the fish if there is traces in there (Like soap will)

my current tank was a marine tank previously, as i was going to use it for freshwater i did't need to panic about diseases crossing from sw to fw, as they aren't able to. so a good scrub and rinse will suffice. i don't agree with the risk of using any chemicals in your fishes new home, no matter how much you think you have rinsed it!

hoever, i do think the teatree idea is a very good suggestion. i think teatree would do less damage than bleach