Used tank cleaning

[N2theUnknown]

Ok everyone. I bought a used 100ish gallon acrylic tank yesterday. Only issue is coraline is everywhere everywall there is also a birdsnest and zoa colony on one wall. But the tank has been empty for almost 24 hours. Im wanting to start over. Whats the best thing to do soak the tank in water and viniger or would bleach be ok? What are my options?

 

[Crabs McJones]

Ok everyone. I bought a used 100ish gallon acrylic tank yesterday. Only issue is coraline is everywhere everywall there is also a birdsnest and zoa colony on one wall. But the tank has been empty for almost 24 hours. Im wanting to start over. Whats the best thing to do soak the tank in water and viniger or would bleach be ok? What are my options?

Vinegar would be best to help dissolve the coraline. That and a little elbow grease, just be careful on an acrylic tank. They tend to scratch easily.

 

[HairyGary]

Vinegar would be best to help dissolve the coraline. That and a little elbow grease, just be careful on an acrylic tank. They tend to scratch easily.

^^^^This. Yeah I would use vinegar and definitely be careful when you scrub. I would let is air dry once you are done. GL

 

[N2theUnknown]

My plan is to plumb everything back in fill the tank and add 4 or so gallons of vinigar and let it run for 24 hours. I do have scrapers made for acrylic but yes I will use caution. Just wantes to make sure this was my best option.

 

[cracker]

Get your vinegar solution as strong as possible. Might need to soak longer.

 

[N2theUnknown]

I seen were somebody also put peroxide into the water vinigar mix? Is this recommended

 

[Super Fly]

I always do a bleach bath to kill any undesirable bacteria with any used equipment. never know what previous owner had.

 

[Gareth elliott]

I seen were somebody also put peroxide into the water vinigar mix? Is this recommended

Theres no benefit to this tbh.

Another option that comes dry and cheaper to ship than acetic acid, is citric acid.

Its what i use to clean my equipment, i buy off amazon also walmart usually has some in their canning section.

 

[WVNed]

I always do a bleach bath to kill any undesirable bacteria with any used equipment. never know what previous owner had.

Always a good idea but get it as clean as you can first. Almost all old tank junk is mineral in nature. Chlorine will do nothing to remove it. I would be tempted to use muriatic acid
(Dilute hydrochloric acid). Same effect as vinegar ( dilutes acetic acid) but stronger.

I have used CLR on old tanks before but those where used for freshwater in a hard water area that had developed a very resistant hard water ring at the top.

 

[doughboy]

I recently tore down my 60 cube acrylic tank with lots of really thick and hard coraline.
I filled it with freshwater and 1 gallon vinegar and ran two powerheads for 24 hours.
most coralines came off easily (whole pieces) by picking on it lightly. The rest scraped off easily with an acrylic scraper.
for your 100 gal tank, 2 gallons vinegar should be more than sufficient.

 

[N2theUnknown]

Well im just trying to get rid of coralline and im guessing since its a calcium base that any acid base would work? This is going to be a few day project atleast so im not wanting to use any "stronger" acid as my tank is in my backyard and i dont want my kids or dog or any other animal for that matter getting into it so im going to stick with vinergar just may have to add a bite more.

 

[N2theUnknown]

I recently tore down my 60 cube acrylic tank with lots of really thick and hard coraline.
I filled it with freshwater and 1 gallon vinegar and ran two powerheads for 24 hours.
most coralines came off easily (whole pieces) by picking on it lightly. The rest scraped off easily with an acrylic scraper.
for your 100 gal tank, 2 gallons vinegar should be more than sufficient.

Thanks! Haha I was goining to do 4 gallons although i was going to completly plumb every thing back into the sump so like 130 total but still probably overkill.

 

[Jesterrace]

Distilled White Vinegar/Tap Water mix is the safest all around bet. I have done both bleach/water mix and then rinse completely and let dry 24 hours and then do Vinegar and Tapwater mix run for a while and then once again spray out, wipe down and let dry completely. This one-two punch will kill ANY nasties remaining in the tank.

 

[N2theUnknown]

After your bleach mix have ypu ever used like freshwater conditoner to help rid the cholrine? Or is the rinse enough

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[Super Fly]

After your bleach mix have ypu ever used like freshwater conditoner to help rid the cholrine? Or is the rinse enough

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I rinse in clean water then let it sit in clean water 24 hrs, wipe it down and let it evaporate. Bleach will evaporate and the equipment will be safe afterwards