"New" used tank

Robert MacCara · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

I have been given a tank by a friend that unfortunately used several harsh
cleaning solutions trying to "clean" the tank without really knowing how to.
CLR (Lime & Rust remover) was first used and then dish soap to try and clean
the CLR residue.
Does anybody have any ideas how I can clean the tank thoroughly to remove
everything bad left in the tank? I want to use the tank (30 gal) to hold my
baby convicts. Which brings me to part two of the question.
The fry are about 2 weeks old now and I want to get them into their own
tank - What should go into their tank rock/gravel/filter/etc wise?

Thanks,
Rob

Archived from group: rec>aquaria>freshwater>cichlids

Cool_Drool · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 1

"Robert MacCara" wrote in message$PD3.100298@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
> I have been given a tank by a friend that unfortunately used several harsh
> cleaning solutions trying to "clean" the tank without really knowing how
to.
> CLR (Lime & Rust remover) was first used and then dish soap to try and
clean
> the CLR residue.
> Does anybody have any ideas how I can clean the tank thoroughly to remove
> everything bad left in the tank? I want to use the tank (30 gal) to hold
my
> baby convicts. Which brings me to part two of the question.
> The fry are about 2 weeks old now and I want to get them into their own
> tank - What should go into their tank rock/gravel/filter/etc wise?
>
> Thanks,
> Rob
>
>

I use CLR and LimeAway on old talks ALL THE TIME. It is perfectably fine to
do so, you just have to make sure you rinse it out VERY WELL. I have a
trick for this Smile

I set the tank on 4 bricks (one on each side), over top of a lawn sprinkler.
I turn on the sprinkler for about 30 minutes.

Completely rinses every square inch of the inside beatuifully (sp).

Robert MacCara · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 2

"Cool_Drool" wrote in message@enews2.newsguy.com...
> "Robert MacCara" wrote in message
> $PD3.100298@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
> > I have been given a tank by a friend that unfortunately used several
harsh
> > cleaning solutions trying to "clean" the tank without really knowing how
> to.
>
> I use CLR and LimeAway on old talks ALL THE TIME. It is perfectably fine
to
> do so, you just have to make sure you rinse it out VERY WELL. I have a
> trick for this Smile

>
> I set the tank on 4 bricks (one on each side), over top of a lawn
sprinkler.
> I turn on the sprinkler for about 30 minutes.
>
> Completely rinses every square inch of the inside beatuifully (sp).

That's a great idea! Now if only I could hook up the hose to a hot water
tap, I'd have it made . I think I'll do this tomorrow and then setup the
tank as RedForeman suggested. I suspect that the previous owners did not
rinse it out well enough - either that or had awful water conditions as they
several times added fish which promptly died - then washed the tank again
and start over. They did this several times...
Thanks for the great pointers,
Rob

Jim Brown · Joined: 16 Aug 2007 Posts: 177

Robert MacCara wrote in message$PD3.102114@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
> "Cool_Drool" wrote in message
> @enews2.newsguy.com...
> > "Robert MacCara" wrote in message
> > $PD3.100298@nnrp1.uunet.ca...
> > > I have been given a tank by a friend that unfortunately used several
> harsh
> > > cleaning solutions trying to "clean" the tank without really knowing
how
> > to.
> >
> > I use CLR and LimeAway on old talks ALL THE TIME. It is perfectably
fine
> to
> > do so, you just have to make sure you rinse it out VERY WELL. I have a
> > trick for this Smile

> >
> > I set the tank on 4 bricks (one on each side), over top of a lawn
> sprinkler.
> > I turn on the sprinkler for about 30 minutes.
> >
> > Completely rinses every square inch of the inside beatuifully (sp).
>
> That's a great idea! Now if only I could hook up the hose to a hot water
> tap, I'd have it made . I think I'll do this tomorrow and then setup
the
> tank as RedForeman suggested. I suspect that the previous owners did not
> rinse it out well enough - either that or had awful water conditions as
they
> several times added fish which promptly died - then washed the tank again
> and start over. They did this several times...
> Thanks for the great pointers,
> Rob
>
>

You might be able to use hot water if the physical conditions are right. I
have a cabinet beside the laundry tub. It was shimmed to be just a bit
taller than the lip of the tub. I stand the aquarium on one end, with a
small shim on the bottom so that it tilts slightly over and into the tub.
One of those rubber shampoo hoses is attached to the tap, and I have hot
water. Don't use too much water pressure as that hot water will blow the
hose off, making a wet mess.

Jim