Safe way to clean a used tank
-
Topic author - Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Safe way to clean a used tank
I'm buying a used 90 gallon tomorrow and need to know a safe way to do a thorough cleaning.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Posts: 855
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:22 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
Most people on here use diluted vinegar.
Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
5pps: Jimbo, Tiny, Mr Krabs, Felicia, Sebastian
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 5010
- Joined: Fri Feb 24, 2012 8:12 pm
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Contact:
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
Bleach works well in killing bacteria, and well as any other hitchhiking organism, just be sure to wash it out fully.
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-G935F using Tapatalk
|| Avid Aquarist Addict (2007) || Crazy Crabbing Connoisseur (2012) || Amateur Aroid Admirer (2014) ||
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
I strive to make HCA a welcoming space for all
Infrequently on due to studies, on a little more on in FB group
-
- Tech Support
- Posts: 10594
- Joined: Thu Oct 01, 2009 8:49 am
- Location: Leetonia, Ohio
- Contact:
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
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!
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
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!
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
Want to see all my crazy pets? @waywardwaifs on Instagram
-
Topic author - Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
This is gonna be harder than I thought. Lolwodesorel 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!
Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 7312
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2016 6:56 pm
- Location: Florida
- Contact:
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
I like white vinegar and water. Lemon works great for hard water stains. 
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Truly blessed to have incredible creatures, wonderful friends and my amazing family in my life!! I'm very thankful & grateful for all of them! www.thehealthyhermit.com
-
- Posts: 855
- Joined: Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:22 pm
- Location: Houston, TX
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
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.
Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
5pps: Jimbo, Tiny, Mr Krabs, Felicia, Sebastian
-
- Posts: 2115
- Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:01 pm
- Location: The 6ix, Ontario, Canada
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
Can confirm this works well, but consider wearing gloves - it's brutal on your hands.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.
Sent from my SM-J700T1 using Tapatalk
"Gaze upon the rolling deep..."
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(
-
- Administrator
- Posts: 4603
- Joined: Sun Sep 05, 2010 3:54 pm
- Location: Manitoba, Canada
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
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.
"If there are no dogs in Heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went." -Will Rogers
-
Topic author - Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
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.
raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
-
- Posts: 2115
- Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2016 12:01 pm
- Location: The 6ix, Ontario, Canada
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
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.

"Gaze upon the rolling deep..."
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(
Quince the fat tailed gecko; Amazonian minnows; and now Harry & Luis, Bede & Aster, Chandra & Jace, Pax, & Piccolo, my adopted PPs.
RIP Vegita :(
-
Topic author - Posts: 3029
- Joined: Sun Oct 15, 2017 10:41 pm
Re: Safe way to clean a used tank
It wouldn't be enough. You know that.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...

raising son's dog, Dante. Husky/hound.
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi
Raising daughter's hermit crabs, Shelder, Paras and Derek. Added 2 more of my own (of course) Pete and Stryper. Former mommy to 2 guinea pigs and beloved cat, Nissi