Question Regarding Cleaning Out Bleach

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
Gage Zamrzla

Gage Zamrzla

Blue Tier VIP
MFK Member
Jun 25, 2010
1,242
168
371
Penn Valley, CA
So I got a free 75g aquarium that's only two months new, (I actually sold the tank retail to the guy who ended up wanting a bigger tank two months later so he gave me the 75g) and put it on my side yard. I wasn't thinking that one of my two 75g is pretty old and needs to be replaced so it's been sitting there for about two months now and someone in my family (yet to come forward) put some water in it and left it so we had a little mosquito issue which my mom tried and succeeded in eliminating with bleach. Fortunately is wasn't a lot of bleach and I'm in the process of cleaning it out and leak testing just to be safe but I wasn't sure exactly how I should be sure I've removed the bleach. I was planning on using vinegar and scrubbing it out after I rinse it a few times. Am I going about it correctly or is there something I should do differently? Any input is appreciated, thanks.
 
Your doing the right thing. The only thing I would do is fill the tank with water and treat with a double dose of prime. Let is sit for a day then repeat again. After that, I'd say you're good.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
I see, thanks to the both of you and unless someone comes a long to tell me to do otherwise I'll continue the method I began with.
 
If it sits long enough the chlorine will evaporate anyways, but I would use the prime method suggested above just in case anyways. It's always better to be safe than sorry.
 
Hello; This may not apply exactly to your situation. I have used empty bleach bottles as storage containers for my aquarium water for several years. I have found these plastic bottles to be very sturdy and to hold up well over time.
I simply fill the empty bleach bottle a few times with water and let it sit for a few minutes. Iusually pour the water into my washing machine so as not to waste it. After this the bottles can and have been used to store water for water changes.
My feeling is that by the time you finish claening out the tank and do a test fill, the bleach residue should be gone.
I do not use prime or other chemical water treatments as my tap water has only chlorine as a treatment chemical. The bleach becomes inert after a few days. I have been doing this for around thirty years.
I also question the use of prime or other chemicals for the purpose you asked about. It does not make sense to use a chemical treatment as a just in case in this connection.
Prime and the other water conditioners have a place if your water has chloramines.
Good luck.
 
Prime treats chlorine, chloramine and ammonia. All of these can be found in bleach. There's nothing wrong with "just in case" when you're talking about potentially fatal chemicals to fish.


Sent from my iPhone using MonsterAquariaNetwork app
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
MonsterFishKeepers.com
Top Bottom