Cleaning a used tank

Hey everyone I picked up a used 135 gallon salt tank this wekend. quick question the tank was drained and has sat for 1yr. What is ok to clean the tank with? I also got a pro aquatics sump/skimmer how should I clean it as well? Thanks

 

I clean mine with pure bleach. Make sure you spray up under the rim too and just rinse well. Bleach will kill every thing that is left in the tank.

Also make sure you do this in a well ventilated area.

 

I know a lot of people that also use pure bleach. They all swear by it Im just to scared to try it. I dilute the bleach about a cup per gallon of water.

 

Once Bleach dries, the chemical is dead. I have used it in cleaning decorations and tanks for years with no ill effects

 

Bleach bleach and more bleach, just make sure you rinse and rinse after your done cleaning. let it air-out , this will let it neutralize and evaporate before you put your valuables in ...

 

if the glass is severely scarred, you could goto an autozone and buy this wonderful stuff called "glass scrub," follow the directions and everything comes out awesome. After my tank dried after the glass scrub cleaning i went back with isopropyl and wiped everything down.

But if you're tank isnt in that bad of shape i'd just do what they are suggesting.

 

Vinegar also works if you don't want to use bleach.

 

+1

 

+2 White Vinegar though.

 

To put things in perspective, bleach and vinegar are both great for their respective purposes. Bleach kills. All life is cancelled by bleach. As a poster said above, once it dries, it's completely gone and neutralized. Vinegar removes carbonate deposits that are otherwise stubborn or not removable.

If the tank has been sitting and wet, slimy, smelly, green, stringy, etc., bleach is your buddy. If the tank is dry and dusty with dirt or sand on the bottom; or if it has scale or lime deposits (white, chalky residue that won't come off with soap and water), invert it and spray it out with a hose. Once it's dry, hit it with straight full strength vinegar, scrub and rinse. Never use anything abrasive in a glass or acrylic tank other than a nylon scrubbie. Glass scratches fairly easily.

Keep rinsing until there are no traces of soil or residue. Then you're good to go.