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A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 10:29 am
by FishQueen
@coltin, will using regular tap water in my empty tanks harm any parasites or bad stuff for bettas?
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 1:48 pm
by BadgersSong
I'm not Colin T, but I'll offer my two cents. If you're counting on tap water's chlorine to kill off parasites, I'd personally want a more reliable method. You might want to consider using a diluted bleach spray - about 3-4 teaspoons per quart/liter of room-temperature water, the same type people use to sanitize their countertops - to spray all surfaces in the empty tank. After that, let it dry completely. Then, rinse the tank with water that's had a double dose of dechlorinator added, to neutralize any remaining bleach residue, and you'll be all set.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:14 pm
by FishQueen
I'm really nervous about using bleach, I worry that I'll miss a spot and it'll stick around, harming whatever I put in the tank. But if a double dose of dechlorinator is enough to neutralize the bleach, that makes me feel a bit better.
My tap water does have chloramine, I just wasn't sure if that'd be enough to kill off any parasites or not - if it's not strong enough, I'll probably end up using bleach after all.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 4:49 pm
by BadgersSong
You could definitely use a triple dose of dechlor in the rinse water if that's what it takes to put your mind at ease. Alternatively, hydrogen peroxide is another option, although I'm not entirely sure how effective it is against protozoal cysts.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 8:22 pm
by coltin
If you decide to use bleach for your aquarium, be aware that it can't stay in the tank for too long. Bleach will start breaking down the silicon sealant that holds the glass together, so you need to be careful. Wipe the inside of the glass tank with bleach, but don't leave it for more than 5-15 minutes. After that, rinse it thoroughly with tap water. Keep rinsing until the smell of bleach is gone. Then, fill the tank with water and let it sit for 24 hours. Drain and refill it again before setting it back up.
A safer alternative is granulated swimming pool chlorine. This stuff does the same job as bleach but is easier to work with. Take your tank outside, put it in the shade, and fill it with tap water. Add some pool chlorine according to the instructions on the packet. Let it sit for an hour or so, then drain and rinse the tank under tap water. Once the chlorine smell is gone, fill the tank with water again and let it sit overnight. Drain it one more time, and you're good to go.
Just a heads up, liquid household bleach is sodium hypochlorite, while granulated swimming pool chlorine is calcium hypochlorite.
If you do decide to use bleach, make sure you're in a well-ventilated area or outside. Wear safety gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a face shield to protect yourself. You can also wear a plastic apron for extra safety.
Keep an eye on the silicon sealant when you're bleaching the tank. If it starts to turn white, rinse the tank out with tap water right away.
Another option is to use white vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, so it won't harm the silicon sealant. It's also a lot safer for you to work with. Just wipe everything down with vinegar and let it sit for 24 hours. Then, rinse it off with tap water and let it dry for 24-48 hours before setting it back up.
Drying out your aquarium and accessories can also kill most things that live in water. Leaving them outside in the sunlight for a few hours can also do the trick. Just be careful not to leave the glass tank in direct sunlight for too long, or it might crack.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 11:26 pm
by FishQueen
coltin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 8:22 pm
If you decide to use bleach for your aquarium, be aware that it can't stay in the tank for too long. Bleach will start breaking down the silicon sealant that holds the glass together, so you need to be careful. Wipe the inside of the glass tank with bleach, but don't leave it for more than 5-15 minutes. After that, rinse it thoroughly with tap water. Keep rinsing until the smell of bleach is gone. Then, fill the tank with water and let it sit for 24 hours. Drain and refill it again before setting it back up.
A safer alternative is granulated swimming pool chlorine. This stuff does the same job as bleach but is easier to work with. Take your tank outside, put it in the shade, and fill it with tap water. Add some pool chlorine according to the instructions on the packet. Let it sit for an hour or so, then drain and rinse the tank under tap water. Once the chlorine smell is gone, fill the tank with water again and let it sit overnight. Drain it one more time, and you're good to go.
Just a heads up, liquid household bleach is sodium hypochlorite, while granulated swimming pool chlorine is calcium hypochlorite.
If you do decide to use bleach, make sure you're in a well-ventilated area or outside. Wear safety gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a face shield to protect yourself. You can also wear a plastic apron for extra safety.
Keep an eye on the silicon sealant when you're bleaching the tank. If it starts to turn white, rinse the tank out with tap water right away.
Another option is to use white vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, so it won't harm the silicon sealant. It's also a lot safer for you to work with. Just wipe everything down with vinegar and let it sit for 24 hours. Then, rinse it off with tap water and let it dry for 24-48 hours before setting it back up.
Drying out your aquarium and accessories can also kill most things that live in water. Leaving them outside in the sunlight for a few hours can also do the trick. Just be careful not to leave the glass tank in direct sunlight for too long, or it might crack.
Thanks for the info, really appreciate it. One of my tanks is plastic, so I'm good on that front.
I don't have pool chlorine, just the chloramine in my tap water - I'm guessing that's not strong enough to do the job?
I'm kinda liking the vinegar idea, seems way less risky to me.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2023 4:34 am
by coltin
Chloramine in tap water can be quite effective in killing off parasites and other unwanted organisms. By filling the tank with tap water, allowing it to stand for a few hours, and then draining and refilling it, you can create a process that will ultimately lead to the demise of most waterborne life forms. Repeating this process a few times, spaced an hour or two apart, will increase its efficacy. After the final cycle, drain the tank and let it dry for 24-48 hours to ensure that any remaining organisms are eliminated.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:28 am
by FishQueen
coltin wrote: ↑Wed Sep 27, 2023 8:22 pm
If you decide to use bleach for your aquarium, be aware that it can't stay in the tank for too long. Bleach will start breaking down the silicon sealant that holds the glass together, so you need to be careful. Wipe the inside of the glass tank with bleach, but don't leave it for more than 5-15 minutes. After that, rinse it thoroughly with tap water. Keep rinsing until the smell of bleach is gone. Then, fill the tank with water and let it sit for 24 hours. Drain and refill it again before setting it back up.
A safer alternative is granulated swimming pool chlorine. This stuff does the same job as bleach but is easier to work with. Take your tank outside, put it in the shade, and fill it with tap water. Add some pool chlorine according to the instructions on the packet. Let it sit for an hour or so, then drain and rinse the tank under tap water. Once the chlorine smell is gone, fill the tank with water again and let it sit overnight. Drain it one more time, and you're good to go.
Just a heads up, liquid household bleach is sodium hypochlorite, while granulated swimming pool chlorine is calcium hypochlorite.
If you do decide to use bleach, make sure you're in a well-ventilated area or outside. Wear safety gear like gloves, safety glasses, and a face shield to protect yourself. You can also wear a plastic apron for extra safety.
Keep an eye on the silicon sealant when you're bleaching the tank. If it starts to turn white, rinse the tank out with tap water right away.
Another option is to use white vinegar. Vinegar is an acid, so it won't harm the silicon sealant. It's also a lot safer for you to work with. Just wipe everything down with vinegar and let it sit for 24 hours. Then, rinse it off with tap water and let it dry for 24-48 hours before setting it back up.
Drying out your aquarium and accessories can also kill most things that live in water. Leaving them outside in the sunlight for a few hours can also do the trick. Just be careful not to leave the glass tank in direct sunlight for too long, or it might crack.
Thanks for the advice. I'll follow that method for the tank. For my live plants, I'll keep them in tap water, scrub them gently, and then rinse them thoroughly with tap water - can't dry them out, obviously.
Re: A tribute to colin_t.
Posted: Thu Sep 28, 2023 8:36 am
by coltin
For live plants, I'd just submerge them in a bucket of tap water and change it every hour or so, similar to what you'd do with the tank. No need to scrub them, as that can damage the plants.