HCA: Hermit Crab Association

I'm buying a used 90 gallon tomorrow and need to know a safe way to do a thorough cleaning.

Most people on here use diluted vinegar.

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Bleach works well in killing bacteria, and well as any other hitchhiking organism, just be sure to wash it out fully.

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On a 90?? I did my 75s in the yard with an unscented natural dish soap and then scrubbed them down with straight ammonia, let sit for 10 minutes, and rinsed well, then had my hubby carry them in.

I have a 90 with a crack that I have yet to set up that I will probably scrub in place with vinegar to get the debris off and then sterilise with a wipe down of bleach (I like ammonia for cleaning and sterilising more but it has to be used outside) which would have to air dry for a few days before a final wipe down with water and then vinegar to get rid of the streaks. He can barely move that tank so it will be going straight from point a to point b!

On small tanks I usually use dishsoap and then ammonia or bleach, but they can be washed in the yard or shower and rinsed well. Huge tanks are so much more difficult!

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wodesorel wrote:On a 90?? I did my 75s in the yard with an unscented natural dish soap and then scrubbed them down with straight ammonia, let sit for 10 minutes, and rinsed well, then had my hubby carry them in.

I have a 90 with a crack that I have yet to set up that I will probably scrub in place with vinegar to get the debris off and then sterilise with a wipe down of bleach (I like ammonia for cleaning and sterilising more but it has to be used outside) which would have to air dry for a few days before a final wipe down with water and then vinegar to get rid of the streaks. He can barely move that tank so it will be going straight from point a to point b!

On small tanks I usually use dishsoap and then ammonia or bleach, but they can be washed in the yard or shower and rinsed well. Huge tanks are so much more difficult!

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This is gonna be harder than I thought. Lol

I like white vinegar and water. Lemon works great for hard water stains.


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I read something awhile back about hardwater stains. It was for a bathtub but it will probably work for a tank as well. Cut a lemon in half and cover it in salt and then use the salt covered lemon to scrub it down.

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NLindsey921 wrote:I read something awhile back about hardwater stains. It was for a bathtub but it will probably work for a tank as well. Cut a lemon in half and cover it in salt and then use the salt covered lemon to scrub it down.

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Can confirm this works well, but consider wearing gloves - it's brutal on your hands.

I used diluted vinegar and water, then rinsed with RO and let it air out for a couple of days before moving the crabs in.

Thanks everyone. We used diluted vinegar. It's been set up and occupied and they seem happy. I haven't seen any smiles though. Lol. And, as usual, a 90 gallon still does not seem big enough.

Hermiesguardian wrote:Thanks everyone. We used diluted vinegar. It's been set up and occupied and they seem happy. I haven't seen any smiles though. Lol. And, as usual, a 90 gallon still does not seem big enough.

I know, right? I fantasize about building a crazy big tat. But then I wonder if even that would truly be enough...

LadyJinglyJones wrote:

Hermiesguardian wrote:Thanks everyone. We used diluted vinegar. It's been set up and occupied and they seem happy. I haven't seen any smiles though. Lol. And, as usual, a 90 gallon still does not seem big enough.

I know, right? I fantasize about building a crazy big tat. But then I wonder if even that would truly be enough...

It wouldn't be enough. You know that. I know I have room for at least 1 more crab, but I hesitate. What if there's really no room? Oh..oh...I suggested to my husband yesterday, that I can use the 40gal breeder they just came out of, as a topper!!! Same width. He wasn't very happy at that.