New to site and want to get first tank
- Thread starter bethie_dawn
- Start date
Just don't use soap, if you use a bleach solution make sure it is non-detergeant bleach. White vinegar works pretty well, especially on calcium carbonate deposits. Hydrogen peroxide also works and disinfects. Whatever you use rinse well afterwards.
actually, white vinegar also works well for rinsing it out after cleaning with something else. you can run a cleaning like: bleach, rinse with water, clean/rinse with white vinegar, rinse again with water. just dont mix the bleach and vinegar, in large quantities, it'll produce chlorine gas and kill you.
by rinsing with the vinegar after bleach, it does two things, one, it neutralizes any residual bleach residue left and it's safer for fish, two it also works for cleaning stuff.although in reality im pretty lazy when it comes to cleaning out a new tank, i usually just go over it with a damp rag and let the filter do the rest...
Barbs
If you like barbs then this is for you. Barbs can be nippy and some species can get large but the fish in this tank scheme wil stay small. First you will cycle the tank with some cherry barbs Puntius titteya [6/10] which are a great red color. Once the tank is cycled then you can ad some black ruby barbs Puntius nigrofasciatus [6/8] and tiger barbs Puntius tetrazona [6/10]. Tiger barbs come in many colors such as wild, albino, and moss green.The reason I said other than baking soda is because my mom said to clean it with baking soda but I could not find any and the store is to far of a drive just for that. Gas is way to expensive. I think I will try vinager because that I do have and everything else sounds to scary. The tank has some kind of white film on it, I am not sure from what but it was used and has been in storage for a couple of years. Thanks for all the postings.
well minor set back. Yesterday I setup my tank to cycle but I left it in the floor but I thought it would be okay since I had the lid on it. Well when I got up this mourning the filter was in the floor and the filter thing was taken out and shreaded, charcol was every were. I believe it was either my cocker spaniel or my ferret. It was my only filter thing so tommorw have to get a new one, since I want to get my fish Saterday on my 24th b-day. I do want a bigger tank but right now I do not have the money but hopefully soon.
So are you planning on this tank being on the floor full time? This may be a bad idea..
especialy with the hairy ones rinning about ...
No, I planned to put it on the bar, were I moved it when I set it up. It was just easier to setup on the floor.
Blame the ferret, lol.
By the way you can replace the charcoal with a sponge type filter pad trimmed to fit, charcoal is only effective for a week or two anyway, the sponge actually will improve your biofiltration. I have not used charcoal for many years.
By the way you can replace the charcoal with a sponge type filter pad trimmed to fit, charcoal is only effective for a week or two anyway, the sponge actually will improve your biofiltration. I have not used charcoal for many years.
