using vinegar to disinfect a tank?

[xxoczukxx]

I have a tank thats been sitting in my office neglected since covid started. Without a doubt covered in algae, aiptasia, etc.

I plan to tear it down and bring it home and start it back up.

Whats the easiest way to clean and sterilize everything?

I was going to soak the rocks in bleach for a few days, then in fresh water for a few days, swap the water, a few more days then dry it out.

The sand I am just going to replace entirely.

The tank I was not 100% sure, I was thinking of running it with freshwater and vinegar in around a 13:1 solution? Its a fluval evo so i was just going to fill it up and add a gallon of distilled vinegar and let it run for a few days.

Will this cause any problems, I see some people use vinegar with no issues and others saying the vinegar caused stuff in their tank to break down?

Once the vinegar soak is over Id scrape anyhting i need to manually, rinse everything with fresh and let the fresh water cycle through for a day before emptying and getting everything set back up.

How does my game plan sound?

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

personally I would use vinegar and scrub out the tank with a new brush, rinse with tap water and a final rinse with rodi water. vinegar will wear out the rubbers and o-rings on your equipment if you let it run for a few days

 

[SPR1968]

Personally I use a weak bleach solution to clean anything that needs sterilising and just leave it to soak for a few days or as long as you can and then rinse it down thoroughly

Id probably soak it in either vinager first, although I prefer citric acid it’s more pleasant I find, to break down any calcium deposits etc and then use the weak bleach solution and the rinse it with just normal tap water

 

[vetteguy53081]

Just a couple capfuls of vinegar is sufficient per gallon then cold water rinse

 

[windemerejack]

I would use Citric acid rather than vinegar. Plus you can dab a bit on your finger and lick it and it reminds you of all the tangy sweets you ate as a kid.

 

[G Santana]

My 130 gallon sat for 25 years in my basement I disinfected it with vinegar and 3 months later all is well.