Help with Nuking my tank

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

I am not sure if you are going in the right direction. A full disinfection of the tank is near to impossible. There will always be the core of some biomedia that didn't get reached by bleach, some drops of water left in tubing, etc. Furthermore, I consider it an obsolete measure.

Why don't you simply increase the temp in your tank, add some salt, and sit it out. Just don't buy any new fish anytime soon. There are two scenarios:

1) Some of your fish will survive --> great. Give them some time in their tank by themselves until they have regained strength.

2) all of your fish are doomed to die because of pre-existing conditions. Then simply let the tank run for a few weeks without livestock. If there are no hosts, then diseases have a hard time surviving. The added salt and raised temp take care of the rest.

This will take no longer than cycling a new tank, and it will save you time and money.

IMO most of the desperate measures are uncalled for and are a result of impatience. The less you mess with a tank, the more stable it is.

Most importantly: Do not add new fish for a couple of months!
And then set up a quarantine tank.

Just my $ 0.02

HarleyK

 

[dovii88]

i wouldnt use beach just really hot water and hydrogen peroxide

 

[Derpeder]

Howdy,

I am not sure if you are going in the right direction. A full disinfection of the tank is near to impossible. There will always be the core of some biomedia that didn't get reached by bleach, some drops of water left in tubing, etc. Furthermore, I consider it an obsolete measure.

Why don't you simply increase the temp in your tank, add some salt, and sit it out. Just don't buy any new fish anytime soon. There are two scenarios:

1) Some of your fish will survive --> great. Give them some time in their tank by themselves until they have regained strength.

2) all of your fish are doomed to die because of pre-existing conditions. Then simply let the tank run for a few weeks without livestock. If there are no hosts, then diseases have a hard time surviving. The added salt and raised temp take care of the rest.

This will take no longer than cycling a new tank, and it will save you time and money.

IMO most of the desperate measures are uncalled for and are a result of impatience. The less you mess with a tank, the more stable it is.

Most importantly: Do not add new fish for a couple of months!
And then set up a quarantine tank.

Just my $ 0.02

HarleyK

I'm gonna have to agree with this approach. I had a similar situation and let my tank sit for 2 weeks after adding a good amount of salt and I haven't had a problem yet.

Good luck though, most of us know how frustrating that is.

 

[johnptc]

why not try the salt you can always go to a chemical nuke if all else fails

I'm gonna have to agree with this approach. I had a similar situation and let my tank sit for 2 weeks after adding a good amount of salt and I haven't had a problem yet.

Good luck though, most of us know how frustrating that is.

 

[ammerman19]

just a sidenote in case you do. Do not ever put LFS water into your tank either.

 

[hurricane_redbone]

the easiest way to do this is to move ur tank into ur shower/bathtub. then boil up as much water as u can and throw it in the tank with some bleach... then start scrubbing with a dish brush so u dont have to burn ur hands... scrub it GOOD and HARD for a while. when u feel u have scrubbed long and good enough in all the corners. poor out the bleach water. the put the shower head in the tank and turn the hot water on... just let it overflow and leave it running for like an hour at least. then go get ur water pump... throw it in plug it in and start pump the water out...
dry it all off. put it back in its place and start setting it up again...
thats works for me

 

[Bleeding]

Howdy,

I am not sure if you are going in the right direction. A full disinfection of the tank is near to impossible. There will always be the core of some biomedia that didn't get reached by bleach, some drops of water left in tubing, etc. Furthermore, I consider it an obsolete measure.

Why don't you simply increase the temp in your tank, add some salt, and sit it out. Just don't buy any new fish anytime soon. There are two scenarios:

1) Some of your fish will survive --> great. Give them some time in their tank by themselves until they have regained strength.

2) all of your fish are doomed to die because of pre-existing conditions. Then simply let the tank run for a few weeks without livestock. If there are no hosts, then diseases have a hard time surviving. The added salt and raised temp take care of the rest.

This will take no longer than cycling a new tank, and it will save you time and money.

IMO most of the desperate measures are uncalled for and are a result of impatience. The less you mess with a tank, the more stable it is.

Most importantly: Do not add new fish for a couple of months!
And then set up a quarantine tank.

Just my $ 0.02

HarleyK

Thanks HarleyK....

I keep the tank at 78-80 now. What would be considered a good temp. to raise to? With the salt, is the standard dosage on the box appropriate, or should i increase this? (i typically use salt now with water changes, i believe its one heaping tbsp per 5 gal)...

 

[Miles]

Livebearers..

Guppies..

poor supplier + weak genetics..

It's no surprise to have guppies drop like flies these days, they are usually overbred and low quality from major wholesalers.

Throw in some Danios or White Clouds and then see what kind of results you get..

 

[Headrush]

Lots of good ideas you guys/gals. One thing tho that came to my mind is do you live alone? Are there any kids around who might have put something in the tank when you werent looking? Not trying to get personal, just thought that would be easy to overlook. My GF has a 5 yr old and ...well...you'd be surprised. He knows better but I still can't keep the glass clean. Kids dig fishtanks and get very curious.

maybe a long shot but thought I'd mention it.

Good luck!

 

[HarleyK]

Howdy,

Miles has a good point. I do not know what species you tried besides livebearers, though.

I keep the tank at 78-80 now. What would be considered a good temp. to raise to?

What fish are still in there? You should definitely go up to the mid 80s. If you have no fish left, go into the lower 90s. Many plants suffer at temps that high, but some will be just fine and survive. Do not transfer them into other tanks of yours!

With the salt, is the standard dosage on the box appropriate, or should i increase this? (i typically use salt now with water changes, i believe its one heaping tbsp per 5 gal)...

2 teaspoons per gal

Also, read up on guppy's advice regarding a couple of treatments HERE and HERE. I do not know precisely what problems you had, so only you can decide. You can try alternating treatments, but let each work for ~2 weeks before you switch.

You can also try a full treatment cycle of Melafix if you haven't already. Again, only you know what problems you r fish have.

Good luck,
HarleyK