Unused Tank still good?

[Lady Samsara]

A friend has a 5 gallon tank (Marineland with biowheel insert) that he
used to use for quarantine. It has been sitting unused, filled with
sand, water and ornaments for many months. There is a slight fish
smell coming from it and slight sandy scum on the top of the water.
Can this tank be safey emptied and cleaned for use? Can the plants and
ornament be cleaned and used? Can I rinse out the filter media and use
it or should I use fresh? What should I use to clean the tank? What
about the sand? I have never had a sand bottomed tank and know nothing
about it. Any input on the sand would be greatly appreciated. I was
eventually going to stock it with one male Betta and maybe a couple of
other small, compatible fish.

Thanks for any help/advice!

[NetMax]

"Lady Samsara" > wrote in message
oups.com...
>A friend has a 5 gallon tank (Marineland with biowheel insert) that he
> used to use for quarantine. It has been sitting unused, filled with
> sand, water and ornaments for many months. There is a slight fish
> smell coming from it and slight sandy scum on the top of the water.
> Can this tank be safey emptied and cleaned for use? Can the plants and
> ornament be cleaned and used? Can I rinse out the filter media and use
> it or should I use fresh? What should I use to clean the tank? What
> about the sand? I have never had a sand bottomed tank and know nothing
> about it. Any input on the sand would be greatly appreciated. I was
> eventually going to stock it with one male Betta and maybe a couple of
> other small, compatible fish.
>
> Thanks for any help/advice!


I would rinse it, the plants and the ornaments with hot water and a sponge,
discard and replace the sand and reuse the filter media if it was in good
condition.
--
www.NetMax.tk

[Lady Samsara]

Hey NetMax, it's nice to see you are still here! I have moved several
times and haven't had fish for quite some time so I haven't been here.
Thank you once again for your kind help...I hope all is well with you
and your store is still flourishing under your expert knowledge!!!

[Logic316]

Lady Samsara wrote:
> Hey NetMax, it's nice to see you are still here! I have moved several
> times and haven't had fish for quite some time so I haven't been here.
> Thank you once again for your kind help...I hope all is well with you
> and your store is still flourishing under your expert knowledge!!!

The only thing I'd add to make it a bit easier is to clean the tank and
ornaments with baking soda. It's an effective mild detergent which
easily rinses out and doesn't leave any toxic residue.

- Logic316



"Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short
phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it
stops moving, subsidize it."
-- Ronald Reagan

[Gill Passman]

"Logic316" > wrote in message
...
> Lady Samsara wrote:
> > Hey NetMax, it's nice to see you are still here! I have moved several
> > times and haven't had fish for quite some time so I haven't been here.
> > Thank you once again for your kind help...I hope all is well with you
> > and your store is still flourishing under your expert knowledge!!!
>
> The only thing I'd add to make it a bit easier is to clean the tank and
> ornaments with baking soda. It's an effective mild detergent which
> easily rinses out and doesn't leave any toxic residue.
>
> - Logic316
>
>
>
> "Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short
> phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it
> stops moving, subsidize it."
> -- Ronald Reagan

When I recently recycled a tank I used a bleach solution and then put
everything out in the sun for a few days....then rinsed in tap water....

Gill

[A Man]

I would clean the tank with vinegar and rinse thoroughly. I would rinse the
filter, not clean it, with non-chlorine water. For the sand, I would rinse it
in the sink to get particles out.

Then I would set it up to cycle again with cheap fish, like feeders. When the
cycle is done you can add more expensive fish.

--
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