jace the mace
I own a fish bowl
Posts: 21
Posted: 5/29/02 6:45 pm
Ways of sterilizing a tank
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My fish just finished a dropsy treatment in a hospital tank. His old little 10g has been given a total water dump-out for practical purposes. Well, even though I'm not sure if his dropsy was bacterial, should i sterilize the tank? Thanx in advance.
"Anger, fear, aggression. The Dark Side of the Force are they. Once you start down the Dark Path, forever will it dominate your destiny." -- Jedi Master Yoda
Edited by: Rachel at: 4/21/03 9:12:54 pm
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kokopalee
Goldfish Guru
ezSupporter
Posts: 2263
Posted: 5/29/02 6:51 pm
Re: Sterilization
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I would do the hospital tank yes
All My Goldfish Are
My Children
koko
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fishfaye20
Petsmart.com is my start page
Posts: 352
Posted: 5/29/02 7:40 pm
Re: Sterilization
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Just curious... whats ur method of steralizing tanks??
*~Faye~*
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kevkoi
I can't afford water conditioners
Posts: 237
Posted: 5/29/02 11:49 pm
Re: Sterilization
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Strike it with a high concentration of Potassium Permanganate solution. That will wipe out all bacteria and all bugs. Aerate the PP solution in your aquarium and after a few hours the purple colour oxidises and turns a brownish colour and on further aeration it turns clear (probably after a day)..... There after, u can do partial water changes and use the hospital tank like nothing happened. (except u have to restart the cycle in your filter.... all the bugs wiped out). PP after it's been oxidised is harmless to fish.... infact some research suggest the byproduct left behind is suppose to promote fish growth (don't know how far that's true.)
U could use Bleach, but then u'd have to empty the tank and clean it really well because bleach residue will kill fish (unlike PP, once oxidised is harmless). Hot water is also a method I've heard of... only thing is whether the hot water is actually hot enough to kill all the bacteria? Or it'll be alot of hotwater to fill a big tank... plus dealing with alot of hot water its dangerous (to u!).
I'd suggest the PP treatment. PP is easily available from the Chemist off the shelve and it's cheap.
"Our hobby is about 'water keeping'. Keep your water, and the water will keep the fish."
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Billius
I built my fish tank
Posts: 251
Posted: 5/30/02 1:12 pm
Re: Sterilization
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Vinegar and salt will also work. Vinegar would knock the pH down,and salt just as a precaution. Bacteria only grow in a very limited pH range.
"If A equals success, then the formula is A=X+Y+Z, where X is work, Y is play, and Z is keep your mouth shut."
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kevkoi
I can't afford water conditioners
Posts: 238
Posted: 5/30/02 6:21 pm
Re: Sterilization
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Bacteria grow in a wide range of pH. The same bacteria lives from pH 4-9 so if you're intent on wiping them out using the pH method, u've got to go with a very high concentration of vinegar.....
"Our hobby is about 'water keeping'. Keep your water, and the water will keep the fish."
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Billius
I built my fish tank
Posts: 259
Posted: 5/31/02 1:09 pm
Re: Sterilization
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If you sun-dry it, the solar radiation will kill it also.
"If A equals success, then the formula is A=X+Y+Z, where X is work, Y is play, and Z is keep your mouth shut."
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jsrtist
Posts: 1232
Posted: 5/31/02 1:33 pm
Re: Sterilization
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I've used the sun dry method before. I tore down one of my 10 gallons a few weeks back to get rid of planaria. I rinsed obsessively and let everything sit out in the sun to dry for awhile. Now my tank is almost cycled and has a different kind of worm, and much more. Do you think I should try this again with all my gravel and everything from the tank? Will the sun kill the good bacteria too?
~ Jenny~ and my babies • Right? • Meeko • Buck •
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Florissa
Goldfish Disease Moderator
Posts: 1167
Posted: 5/31/02 2:18 pm
Re: Sterilization
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js: do you mean keep the water and gravel andeverything just take it all out and let the tank sit out in the sum for a while? I wouldn't normally, but if there are actual worms, then I think I would.
~Sara~
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jsrtist
Posts: 1233
Posted: 5/31/02 2:22 pm
Re: Sterilization
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No, I think I might have to tear it all down and do it agian. I hope it doesnt come to that but it might. THere are actual worms all over everything. I was just wondering if the sun will kill the good bugs too. I really hate to do this to my poor fish again.
~ Jenny~ and my babies • Right? • Meeko • Buck •
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