Good morning R2R, forgive me if this is in the wrong section. Unfortunately my 300 gallon FOWLR tank got a nasty infection in it which took out some fish before I could get them all into a medicated QT. Anyways, I am wanting to disinfect the entire tank and sump before I put anything back into it. Currently the tank has sand in it but I was planning on removing all of it and either going bare bottom or starting with new sand. What's the best way to disinfect the tank/sump? I was thinking some sort of mixed bleach and water combo and let it run through the system for a few hours. Thank you.
Disinfecting 300 gallon
- Thread starter TonyD1988
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homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
What did you have that wiped out your system?
Cleaning the tank is a good idea, but depending on what it was, it might just be easier to starve it out.
Bleach will kill most anything, but you certainly can't bleach your rocks unless you want to start from scratch again.
Cleaning the tank is a good idea, but depending on what it was, it might just be easier to starve it out.
Bleach will kill most anything, but you certainly can't bleach your rocks unless you want to start from scratch again.
TonyD1988
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We believe it was velvet. It was a nasty case. Lost several fish even some in QT. All of my rocks have already been removed and sitting dry. I planned on disinfecting them anyways. I am ok with starting over. Can I run the bleach water mix with the sand in the DT? I would plan on mixing it thoroughly so that the bleach gets everything and then obviously a very thorough rinse with RO several times.
It might prove problematic to get all the bleach out of the sand, while in the tank. Might be easier to remove the sand and clean it out of the tank. I would use a bleach water, and rinse throughly afterwards. I wouldn't bother with ro, until the final fill
homer1475
Figuring out the hobby one coral at a time.
I would agree, bleach the sand out of the tank so it can be rinsed well.
I do this in my display from time to time. Siphon off the top layer into a filter sock, dump the sand into a bucket with bleach and water. Wait a few days, rinse, leave in Prime and water for a couple more days, let air dry for a couple more days.
Won't hurt dumping in some bleach and letting the system run for a few days minus the sandbed. But afterwards I would drain it, then run it again with RO/DI and Prime to neutralize any of the bleach. Then let sit dry for a couple days to off gas any bleach left.
Bleach in the hobby is pretty benign as it off gasses in a matter of hours.
I do this in my display from time to time. Siphon off the top layer into a filter sock, dump the sand into a bucket with bleach and water. Wait a few days, rinse, leave in Prime and water for a couple more days, let air dry for a couple more days.
Won't hurt dumping in some bleach and letting the system run for a few days minus the sandbed. But afterwards I would drain it, then run it again with RO/DI and Prime to neutralize any of the bleach. Then let sit dry for a couple days to off gas any bleach left.
Bleach in the hobby is pretty benign as it off gasses in a matter of hours.
