Disinfecting

[nzafi]

So I need to disinfect my 180g tank any everything in it including filters to make sure I kill anything in the tank causing the disease I am dealing with being hith, columnaris and some white fungus on the lip.

I am running a hmf and ac110s. To be thorough I am planning on dumping 20g of bleach in the 180g to achieve the 9 to 1 disinfectant ratio and then letting the tank run like that for a few days. I will then drain, wipe down with bleach disinfect including tank tank tops. I will then leave the tank to dry out for awhile.

My question is should I bother to try and salvage my biomax media, ac110 sponges and the 4in thick poret foam for my hmf or just toss all of it. I will also probably toss my air stones, net, and algae brush.

Overkill but considering I've been fighting this crap for weeks and I am in process of moving in 2 months it actually works out well do to it all now and leave my hosptial tank running with fish in there. I'll just add carbon to remove the meds.

Thoughts?

 

[kno4te]

Would keep the media. Toss out the rest.

 

[deeda]

I think the Poret is capable of withstanding the bleaching process so you may want to check Stephan's website for confirmation.

The AC110 sponge doesn't stand up well to bleaching IME.

 

[MrsE88]

I'd toss it all and just get new media started in the hospital tank to start the main tank after you move.

 

[duanes]

If you bleach it all with the tank running, media and airstones in, it should be OK.
Sponges as stated, may crumble.
I'd be more worried about the fish in the hospital tank, and its stuff.
Will the fish be asymptomatic carriers?
Depending on their worth, not only monetarily, but in all other ways, will it be worth the gamble keeping them?
I can't speak for you, but after my first experience with columnaris, I wish I would have euthanized every fish in the tank.

 

[nzafi]

only fish is the Aimara and don't plan on future tank mates. So I'll keep him. I'll look in to the poret foam. Ac110 foam I have unused extra. I was worried about the biomax and likelihood of it getting a thorough cleaning.

 

[duanes]

That's reasonable keeping it alone, and never sharing nets, siphons, anything that touches its water. And after its in its new tank, disinfecting the hospital tank the same way.

 

[nzafi]

Luckily I have no intention of ever keeping more than one tank

I'm hoping the hosptial tank is fine considering the extreme treatment I've done inside it. Will be easy disinfect but the problem was I wanted to take the current ac110 and media running on it and placing it on my 180g so avoid recycling. Sounds like you're saying that won't happen.

 

[nzafi]

Does anyone know if bleach will ruin the silicone?

 

[duanes]

If the aimara showed signs of columnaris, I personally would not use that media from the hospital tank. Other may differ.
The columnaris bacteria lives in detritus, mulm , mud, all that kind of stuff that builds up in filters.