Question re: bleach

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
G

GBG1

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Jan 1, 2009
11
0
31
NY
Guys,

My young son poured some bleach in his tank thinking it would "clean" the water (water was cloudy due to bacteria bloom). Poor kid was devesatted when returned home only to find that it killed all of his fish! :( I've drained tank and removed and throughly rinsed all decor. My question is do I need to buy all new gravel or can I just remove it, rinse it thoroughly, and then return it to tank? Thanks.
 
A dechlorinator like Prime will neutralize any remaining bleach in the water. I would do a couple fills and drains while stirring the gravel and then treat with dechlorinator and let the system run for a few days. Bleach is commonly used to disinfect tanks after disease because it's effective and is pretty easy to get out of the system when you're done.
 
Excellent-- so I dont even have to remove the gravel to rinse it? That'd save a lot of effort. Thanks for tip re: dechlorinator.
 
The bleach likely wiped out all your beneficial bacteria. You can't just add fish after a couple days as others suggest. You will need to treat like a new tank and cycle it completely.
 
Bderick67 said:
The bleach likely wiped out all your beneficial bacteria. You can't just add fish after a couple days as others suggest. You will need to treat like a new tank and cycle it completely.
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^This. You're basically starting from ground zero. Poor guy, learned a heck of a lesson... The majority of this hobby is all about learning, but so very rewarding. :)
 
spadoc79 said:
how is he gonna cycle it with out fish unless he uses chemicals....
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Looks as if you need to do some research regarding fishless cycling.
 
Hahah you have been given mostly solid advice. Prime and a few rinses and its time to cylce all over again!
 
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