hi i was wondering how do i diisnifect the sand? can i just leave the sand in the tank and pour bleach with the water in it or no?
How to disinfect sand
- Thread starter Richard203
- Start date
Is this expensive sand or cheap sand?
My thinking may be wrong, but couldn’t you spread it out on a tarp and allow it to completely dry for a couple weeks? I would think that would kill any bacteria/parasites that would warm fish. Wouldn’t it?
Of course, if this is cheap sand I would toss it out and buy new.
My thinking may be wrong, but couldn’t you spread it out on a tarp and allow it to completely dry for a couple weeks? I would think that would kill any bacteria/parasites that would warm fish. Wouldn’t it?
Of course, if this is cheap sand I would toss it out and buy new.
I would ask the same question, why?
Was there a previous disease in the tank?
If so, simply letting it dry might not be enough.
Certain bacteria (such as Columnaris) can go into an inert stage and wait for months in a smudge of dirt to rehydrate.
There may be a few inert ick cysts that can go dormant, waiting for water to return.
If I wanted to disinfect for things like these above, I would drain most water from the tank, and pour enough bleach to cover the substrate completely, and let it sit a few days to a week, before rinsing a number times, and finally adding a dechlorinator to make sure its safe to start over..
i think my fish got fish tb and just passed away so im trying to cleaning everythiing and start over. so its better to throw away the sand and get new ones?
Did you actually get a lab diagnosis that the fish had Mycobactirium marinum?
Or is it simply what you suspect?
If you are reasonably sure, I would discard the sand.
Because Mycobacterium marinum is transferable to humans (and can have quite serious consequences) better to come into as little contact as possible with the pathogens would be the best route to go, because it usually enters humans thru scratches or other breaks in the skin.
But even after getting rid of the sand, I would disinfect the tank, and anything that came into contact with the water.
I would also wear strong rubber gloves while doing the disinfecting, and protect any body parts coming in contact with whatever you are disinfecting.
Sorry if I sound alarmist, as long as you take reasonable precautions, it should be fine.
Just protect yourself.
the sypmtom sound like its fish tb. i guess i'll throw away the sand and all other filter media and get new one. i can dsinfect the canister when i pour the bleach into the tank riight? 1 cup = 10gal?
I’ve read bleach works as long as there’s enough contact time...not sure about the concentration. Check out this link: https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=11257&catId=32358&id=3865288
The article also mentions 50%+ ethyl alcohol and I’ve read elsewhere that potassium permanganate also works well. Good luck...that is a nasty disease
The article also mentions 50%+ ethyl alcohol and I’ve read elsewhere that potassium permanganate also works well. Good luck...that is a nasty disease
ya ima wait 30-1hr before draining the bleach. i wonder do rubbiing alcohol work to disinfect the outter tank?