Karen B. Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Greetings I am looking for a way to clean/disinfect my brand new tank either with salt or vinegar. It wasn’t in a box or wrapped and was sitting on a shelf on my big chain pet store. It was too high for people to reach inside of it but as I am paranoid and the fact that everyone uses hand sanitizer nowaday, in case anything got in the tank (like when transporting it), I just want to be extra cautious. So, if anyone has a solution (with measures please, not just « a bunch of »), I would greatly appreciate it. Also, must I let the aquarium dry off completely or just rincing very well is ok? Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colu Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 You could use a very high levels of salt 5 table spoon for 1 gallon let it sit for a week empty them rise well I like to use a 3% hydrogen peroxide solution for disinfecting tanks 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuzzDaddy21 Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 3:41 AM, Karen B. said: clean/disinfect my brand new tank either with salt or vinegar Well I just use water/vinegar (50/50mix) and do dry with no problems. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 I don’t know if there is a specific reason (ie something it does to hand sanitizer) that you are wanting salt or vinegar. I disinfect tanks with standard hydrogen peroxide purchased at the grocery or pharmacy. I use it straight as its premixed to 3% pharmacy levels to disinfect. Hydrogen peroxide leaves no residue. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen B. Posted April 24, 2022 Author Share Posted April 24, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 8:19 AM, Guppysnail said: I don’t know if there is a specific reason (ie something it does to hand sanitizer) that you are wanting salt or vinegar. I disinfect tanks with standard hydrogen peroxide purchased at the grocery or pharmacy. I use it straight as its premixed to 3% pharmacy levels to disinfect. Hydrogen peroxide leaves no residue. No, no particular reason. It just seemed to be less eh… scary?… to use then bleach and such since my tank is new so am not trying to kill any bacterias, just want to be safe. How does it work with hydrogen peroxide? I pour a bit on a paper towel and just scrub the glass then rince the aquarium? Must I let it dry off completely? What if there is a bit left behind, is it toxic to fish? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 I buy it in spray bottles mist the entire thing let sit a few minutes rinse a little and go I don’t dry it since hydrogen peroxide breaks down quickly and is residue free. It’s harmless even if you don’t rinse. I rinse due to anything the tank came in contact with. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lefty o Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 10:25 AM, Karen B. said: No, no particular reason. It just seemed to be less eh… scary?… to use then bleach and such since my tank is new so am not trying to kill any bacterias, just want to be safe. How does it work with hydrogen peroxide? I pour a bit on a paper towel and just scrub the glass then rince the aquarium? Must I let it dry off completely? What if there is a bit left behind, is it toxic to fish? salt, vinegar, peroxide are all preferable to bleach. i have a rule about bleach, it does not go near anything aquarium related. i know others use it, but there are other options that works just about as well at killing off bad things, without the potential downsides. especially for a brand new tank, id wipe it out with vinegar, then rinse with very warm water. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 I’m paranoid of ALL chemicals for any use. To let you know how harmless it is during Covid my dentist made me rinse and gargle before each visit with it. Only harmful if you are a bacteria. 😁 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Burke Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 So, I’m an outlier here. I just rinse, using a clean wet rag to wipe it down. I’m more interested in removing dust and such, and the rag should knock that free. The only way to remove oily glycerin is soap or other cleaning agent that I won’t use in or around my tanks. if I needed to sanitize (biological) h2o2 would be my go to. If I am cleaning, there are tank cleaning sprays. I think API makes one that is safe for use inside the tank. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wrencher_Scott Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 Bleach is actually perfect. It will dissipate on it's own and there is that stuff we use at water changes that neutralizes it anyway. Just don't use anything scented or soapy. But a new tank that's been sitting up high there is a very small chance of anything getting in it (except dust), I'm think just a good flush with tap water would be great. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Widgets Posted April 24, 2022 Share Posted April 24, 2022 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Karen B. Posted April 25, 2022 Author Share Posted April 25, 2022 On 4/24/2022 at 11:52 AM, Guppysnail said: I’m paranoid of ALL chemicals for any use. To let you know how harmless it is during Covid my dentist made me rinse and gargle before each visit with it. Only harmful if you are a bacteria. 😁 Why was your dentist testing if you were a bacteria? 🤪😝 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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