Born again aquarium enthusiast needs help!

I've had this 30 hex Oceanic sitting around for a couple years (mainly
because I haven't had the time or money to maintain the hobby). I've been
out of the "loop" of aquariums for awhile and would like to get back into
it. I'm thinking setting this up as a cichlid tank eventually, but am still
unsure on which way I'll go.
The question I have is..this thing is pretty dirty, as it's been
collecting dust for awhile now..what is the best way to clean it? I figure
dish soap and water is fine just as long as I rinse it out good enough when
finished?
Currently I have a Penguin bio wheel power filter along with an
undergravel filter with a powerhead. I remember I was running this setup
before when it was setup as a marine tank and before that freshwater. It
seemed to work fine. Does this sound like a decent setup?
I guess that's all for now, but I'm sure I'll be back to ask more
questions as this progresses. It'll be good to get back into aquariums
again now that I can afford it

TIA for any info/help

Do NOT use dish soap or soap of any type.

Use weakened bleach water... 1 to 10 ratio. and then rinse very well
when done.

Be sure to use de-chlorinator in whatever water you fill the tank with
just to be sure the bleach is eliminated.

Soap will leave residue that will be harmful to your fish.


On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 08:14:25 GMT, "Lynch"
wrote:

I've had this 30 hex Oceanic sitting around for a couple years (mainly
because I haven't had the time or money to maintain the hobby). I've been
out of the "loop" of aquariums for awhile and would like to get back into
it. I'm thinking setting this up as a cichlid tank eventually, but am still
unsure on which way I'll go.
The question I have is..this thing is pretty dirty, as it's been
collecting dust for awhile now..what is the best way to clean it? I figure
dish soap and water is fine just as long as I rinse it out good enough when
finished?
Currently I have a Penguin bio wheel power filter along with an
undergravel filter with a powerhead. I remember I was running this setup
before when it was setup as a marine tank and before that freshwater. It
seemed to work fine. Does this sound like a decent setup?
I guess that's all for now, but I'm sure I'll be back to ask more
questions as this progresses. It'll be good to get back into aquariums
again now that I can afford it

TIA for any info/help

Actually I would recommend to use soap but in a very specific way using
these steps!
1) Rinse (gotta start somewhere besides this get alot of the big crap out)
2) Use dish soap inside (just a dab will do ya)
3) RINSE, RINSE, RINSE (ok this is three steps in one! and I do mean rinse
three times with as hot of water you can)
4) Here I agree with the 10:1 bleach solution
5) Rinse
6) Setup but don't put fish or plants in yet let it run for a week
7) Stir up the gravel (special if using old gravel) drain 90% and refill
with new water and treat water
8) Let set for a day or so and now start adding fish and plants.
I use this method everytime for old and new aquariums and never lost a fish
yet! Besides when doing all this work it gives me plenty of time to think of
how to set it up.
"bannor" bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block wrote in message
...
Do NOT use dish soap or soap of any type.

Use weakened bleach water... 1 to 10 ratio. and then rinse very well
when done.

Be sure to use de-chlorinator in whatever water you fill the tank with
just to be sure the bleach is eliminated.

Soap will leave residue that will be harmful to your fish.


On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 08:14:25 GMT, "Lynch"
wrote:

I've had this 30 hex Oceanic sitting around for a couple years
(mainly
because I haven't had the time or money to maintain the hobby). I've
been
out of the "loop" of aquariums for awhile and would like to get back into
it. I'm thinking setting this up as a cichlid tank eventually, but am
still
unsure on which way I'll go.
The question I have is..this thing is pretty dirty, as it's been
collecting dust for awhile now..what is the best way to clean it? I
figure
dish soap and water is fine just as long as I rinse it out good enough
when
finished?
Currently I have a Penguin bio wheel power filter along with an
undergravel filter with a powerhead. I remember I was running this setup
before when it was setup as a marine tank and before that freshwater. It
seemed to work fine. Does this sound like a decent setup?
I guess that's all for now, but I'm sure I'll be back to ask more
questions as this progresses. It'll be good to get back into aquariums
again now that I can afford it

TIA for any info/help

Thanks for the tips...

I actually ended up using Oxy Clean for the tank. This was advised by a few
people in a forum. Seemed to work well. I have it filled with gravel and
rocks atm. I will wait a week and follow the rest of your steps.

Thanks again!

"Ray" wrote in message
news:j%36c.106230$Bz3.67834@okepread05...
Actually I would recommend to use soap but in a very specific way using
these steps!
1) Rinse (gotta start somewhere besides this get alot of the big crap out)
2) Use dish soap inside (just a dab will do ya)
3) RINSE, RINSE, RINSE (ok this is three steps in one! and I do mean rinse
three times with as hot of water you can)
4) Here I agree with the 10:1 bleach solution
5) Rinse
6) Setup but don't put fish or plants in yet let it run for a week
7) Stir up the gravel (special if using old gravel) drain 90% and refill
with new water and treat water
8) Let set for a day or so and now start adding fish and plants.
I use this method everytime for old and new aquariums and never lost a
fish
yet! Besides when doing all this work it gives me plenty of time to think
of
how to set it up.
"bannor" bannor -at- echoes - net - mind the spam block wrote in message
...
Do NOT use dish soap or soap of any type.

Use weakened bleach water... 1 to 10 ratio. and then rinse very well
when done.

Be sure to use de-chlorinator in whatever water you fill the tank with
just to be sure the bleach is eliminated.

Soap will leave residue that will be harmful to your fish.


On Wed, 17 Mar 2004 08:14:25 GMT, "Lynch"
wrote:

I've had this 30 hex Oceanic sitting around for a couple years
(mainly
because I haven't had the time or money to maintain the hobby). I've
been
out of the "loop" of aquariums for awhile and would like to get back
into
it. I'm thinking setting this up as a cichlid tank eventually, but am
still
unsure on which way I'll go.
The question I have is..this thing is pretty dirty, as it's been
collecting dust for awhile now..what is the best way to clean it? I
figure
dish soap and water is fine just as long as I rinse it out good enough
when
finished?
Currently I have a Penguin bio wheel power filter along with an
undergravel filter with a powerhead. I remember I was running this
setup
before when it was setup as a marine tank and before that freshwater.
It
seemed to work fine. Does this sound like a decent setup?
I guess that's all for now, but I'm sure I'll be back to ask more
questions as this progresses. It'll be good to get back into aquariums
again now that I can afford it

TIA for any info/help