Cleaning up a diseased tank

**genes** · 11th Apr 2009, 15:56

Hi all

How do you guys treat your diseased tank? One of my tank have been plagued by a diseased that neither bombardment of salt nor medication seems to removed it. So here's what i did today and hopefully can kill whatever disease is in the tank.

1) removed all gravel and filter medias and soak them in freshly boiled water once.

2) Added bleach (less then 5ml) into the bare tank and will let the tank run in that solution for a week before changing water.

**Haji Badaruddin** · 11th Apr 2009, 16:18

My case is similar ....... So far neither any of the medications that i tried work.What i did was:

1) Dry up the whole tank for a few days
2) Put the gravel,bogwood & leaf litter under the sun
3) The java moss i discard

I try to avoid using bleach as it will damage the silicone.

**khtee** · 11th Apr 2009, 16:31

what type of diseases are those? Sound really poisonous.

**tonicwater** · 11th Apr 2009, 17:13

What I usually do to clean my diseased tank is to discard whatever plants and gravel in it then pour boiling water to and let it stand for 1 hr. After that, drain and wash the tank and pour in boiling water again and let it stand until the water cooled down.

**Gecko** · 11th Apr 2009, 17:25

Almost nothing survives sunlight and Potassium permanganate.

**Haji Badaruddin** · 11th Apr 2009, 18:43

Originally Posted by tonicwater

What I usually do to clean my diseased tank is to discard whatever plants and gravel in it then pour boiling water to and let it stand for 1 hr. After that, drain and wash the tank and pour in boiling water again and let it stand until the water cooled down.

What if its a planted tank with ADA soil and plants???I dont think i would be willing to dismantle the setup/decor???

**genes** · 11th Apr 2009, 19:28

Wanted to pour boiling water into the tank too but am afraid the glass may break. so i went for the bleach method instead. Think i'll let the solution run for a day instead of a week. Will be sunning the gravel and filter medias next.

**tonicwater** · 11th Apr 2009, 23:06

Originally Posted by Haji Badaruddin

What if its a planted tank with ADA soil and plants???I dont think i would be willing to dismantle the setup/decor???

Well... did that before. Just doesn't want to take any chances.

**tonicwater** · 11th Apr 2009, 23:10

Originally Posted by genes

Wanted to pour boiling water into the tank too but am afraid the glass may break. so i went for the bleach method instead. Think i'll let the solution run for a day instead of a week. Will be sunning the gravel and filter medias next.

Slowly add the water into the tank should be fine. I did that to many of my tanks before many times but I will make sure that the tank are not too "cold" when I start adding the boiling water.

**barmby** · 16th Apr 2009, 11:30

You may try washing the tank, fish net, air tubing and etc with laundry detergent, or washing powder. I use this to treat tank with the aftermath of plague (bacterial disease)

Discus, Koi, Arowana and Big pleco they all have such big problem with virus.

**derekchia** · 22nd Apr 2009, 21:35

Originally Posted by barmby

You may try washing the tank, fish net, air tubing and etc with laundry detergent, or washing powder. I use this to treat tank with the aftermath of plague (bacterial disease)

Discus, Koi, Arowana and Big pleco they all have such big problem with virus.

Empty the tank, clean and wash with tap water.
Apply a layer of vinegar(transparent type) which will kill whatever diseases within the tank.
Wash away the vinegar after 1/2hr with tap water.
Your tank is ready for use again.
This method was taught to me by a local fish stall owner.

As for gravels,drift wood, pump, filter and etc..,Clean them with tap water and dry them completely under the sun.
Avoid using soap or chemical for cleaning them as it may affect the building up rate of beneficial baterials.
After drying, rinse with tap water and they are ready for use.

After the above steps, cycle the tank before use.