Cleaning

[rayn]

Okay fellow R2R members, I need some help and guidance again.

A while back I tore down my tank due to a massive bryopsis outbreak, easier with what was in the tank then trying to fix. Since that time my fish have been in holding tanks. Not a huge deal, but not ideal.

So cleaning? I am going with all new plumbing, so that is easy enough. But all the pumps, heaters, sensors? I have a Beckett style skimmer that is all glued together and I can't get all around in the base to clean. I also have a media reactor and am hoping not to have to replace the media if it can be saved....it's the plastic style.

So, vinegar? Bleach? Something else to eradicate the remains instead of infesting a new setup?

 

[Diesel]

Bleach will do the trick.
How big is your tank again?

 

[bevo5]

I've heard some horror stories with Bryopsis but I have to imagine that running a bunch of bleach through your system for a week will handle most anything in there?

Someone else is probably much more knowledgeable than me, but I've cleaned out velvet-infested QT tanks by dumping bleach in and just running as normal...then drain and let everything air dry for a while. Then just run it a few times with freshwater and heavy doses of Prime...

If something lives through that it deserves to stay in your tank.

 

[rayn]

Tank is a 120 gallon. It is tore down with no plumbing or anything. So I figure bleach or vinegar with plastic blades to scrape the inside of tank. It's the other equipment. I can easily bleach and run in a tub or bucket.

 

[Diesel]

Plumb your tank after additional cleaning of the equipment and let it run over fresh water and bleach for a week.
Drain and clean and let it run a few days over fresh water.
Drain and clean and rock scape with sand and saltwater........ ready for your cycle.

 

[rayn]

Plumb your tank after additional cleaning of the equipment and let it run over fresh water and bleach for a week.
Drain and clean and let it run a few days over fresh water.
Drain and clean and rock scape with sand and saltwater........ ready for your cycle.

That sounds like a plan.

Any advice on the media? It be fine to run through bleach or couldn't possibly release toxins later?

 

[Diesel]

What is it any pics

 

[rayn]

You asking for the media or algae?

 

[Diesel]

Media.

 

[rayn]

This is what I got

 

[Diesel]

Go with a bag of this stuff.
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/np-biopellets-xl-1000ml.html

 

[Feet4Fish]

This is what I got

That is what I believed is calked K1 media. Did you have good luck with it when it was running?

 

[rayn]

That is what I believed is calked K1 media. Did you have good luck with it when it was running?

Honestly not sure, never had it running long enough to find out. I've seen other tanks with it and it's supposedly "never needs replaced".

 

[Feet4Fish]

Honestly not sure, never had it running long enough to find out. I've seen other tanks with it and it's supposedly "never needs replaced".

That is my understanding too. Heard Great things about it but it also seems that likely it's often cost prohibitive to use it. I know Bashea is using it in their bio reactor.

 

[rayn]

That's what this is.

If you needed to replace I could see cost prohibitive, but if not replacing and it comes in the reactor.

 

[Feet4Fish]

I i'm considering getting that reactor for increased biofiltration on a new large bill I'm doing.

 

[rayn]

I had high hopes for it. I also have the 6*24 skimmer, bought as a matching set to maintain my tank. Bryopsis killed me off and I never had a chance to see results from it.

I did run the skimmer alone on a tank for a while and it pulled really well.

 

[rayn]

Go with a bag of this stuff.
https://premiumaquatics.com/products/np-biopellets-xl-1000ml.html

The issue with this media is it needs replaced. The stuff in the reactor currently "never needs replaced" or so I'm told.

If I don't replace it, I just want to make sure it doesn't release anything back into the tank.

 

[Diesel]

I use it in my vib reactor and once in the six month I refill it.
No need for replacement.

 

[rayn]

So thought pattern here would be to replumb the system, run through with bleach. Drain. Run through with fresh water. Drain. Reset with sand, salt, rock, and start a cycle?