How to clean a used tank?

[Galeno rocha]

I just bought a used tank
It had been set up for two months and already had some fish, two or three coral frags and a small diatom bloom.

I want to cycle it again to ensure no pests survive in my new set up.
How can i clean it thouroughly and also avoid dangerous chemicals that can leech in my new water?

 

[Retro Reefer]

I use a solution of bleach and water for disinfecting things like old tanks and equipment, just be sure to rinse well and air dry for several days before using.

 

[Pntbll687]

Bleach, vinegar, or the go to now seams to be citric acid to clean.

I used a gallon of 30% vinegar in a 33 long, and used a power head for circulation. I let it run for a couple days, scraping off what I needed to remove. Then let it air dry for a week

Whatever you use, just make sure it dries before seeing back up for use.

 

[Galeno rocha]

Thanks!
Can I use it with the live rock and sand inside the tank?

 

[Galeno rocha]

Bleach, vinegar, or the go to now seams to be citric acid to clean.

I used a gallon of 30% vinegar in a 33 long, and used a power head for circulation. I let it run for a couple days, scraping off what I needed to remove. Then let it air dry for a week

Whatever you use, just make sure it dries before seeing back up for use.

Did you used with rock and substrate inside?
I have a 50 gallon tank.
So i fill it with fresh water and add about one and a half gallons of vinegar.
Should i let the skimmer and powerhead running?

 

[Hal3134]

Muriatic acid removes any coralline algae about 10x easier than vinegar. I started with vinegar, then switched, and wondered why I wasted so much time with the vinegar.

 

[Galeno rocha]

Muriatic acid removes any coralline algae about 10x easier than vinegar. I started with vinegar, then switched, and wondered why I wasted so much time with the vinegar.

So... Can a throw it in the tank with the rock inside?
Whats tje proportion?

 

[Hal3134]

I’ve only used it on a dry tank. I know you can do it wet with rock too, but it it will literally eat away at the surface of the rock. Search “cooking” live rock for more details.

 

[Pntbll687]

Here's some tips

 

[Pntbll687]

How to: LIVE ROCK ACID BATH

Photo via MySafetySign.com Sometimes you get to the point where your rock is not working out for you. Maybe you had a stagnant tank and everything died? Maybe you have an insane algae problem? Maybe you just got the rock for free from some fishy...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[Kzang]

So... Can a throw it in the tank with the rock inside?
Whats tje proportion?

Do not use it in a tank. It is a very strong acid that will eat your skin, cause blindness if you get it in your eye, and cause respiratory burns if you inhale it.

I use it to eat dead stuff off live rock called acid washing. It is serious stuff. It will literally dissolve live rock