cleaning used tanks?

Yeah, I completely lost it...just bought another tank! It is a used 72 g Oceanic Bow front with sump that I am going to make as a FOWLR for a puffer. I want to clean it up really well before plumbing it..what is best to clean it with, soap and water or just plain water? I am going to remove the nasty bioballs and replace it with LR rubble. I am also going to buy the new C-Skim Skimmer...which is an AWESOME skimmer...self cleaning skimmer...am very excited.
Any suggestions for cleaning the tank and sump? I have never bought a used tank before! Thanks

 

I was told in another post about a month ago that I was going overboard, but I bleach, rinse WELL, vinegar, rinse WELL, bleach, rinse WELL, thwen vinegar again, then last rinse then rinse some more. You don't know what exactly the used tank has had in it....meds, food, critters...........be safe than sorry.

 

Straight bleach in a spray bottle and make sure you get up under the rim as that is always over looked.

 

50/50 solution of bleach(or vinegar) and water
rinse well with water(dechlorinnator mixed in will help ride the bleach)


cuttingras i think you could give monk a run for his money lol

 

thanks for the advice...the tank was not bad but the sump...NASTY!!!! Nothing was cleaned ever I dont think. I have the trays soaking in my kitchen sink right now...will have to go buy a new sink in am!!! Spent the evening rinsing with water will go back in am with bleach followed by vinegar mixture.....the sump was full of tube worms and all sort of crap....
well worth the work however...$300 for the tank, stand, light fixture (which is great light) and a golden puffer. I know the puffer will only be able to last in my tank for a few years at the most before I have to move him to a bigger tank but he is such a cool fish. I guess that is one of the benefits of being the "crazy fish lady" that is well known at the LFS...I look at this fish EVERYTIME I go to the store and finally the owner told me he would give me the fish if I would buy a new tank and when I reminded him that I had just upgraded to a 135g a few months ago he made me this deal I could not pass up

 

I love Monk what's wrong with a little OCD every now and then.;D

The reason why I say so much washing is that, first you'll get off any and all salt and crud, second is you don't know what the tank was treated with and I know from personal experience that if you get one that may have been used for fresh, chances are they used a copper based med at one time or another. Bleach and Vinegar are so much cheaper than Cuprisorb and you won't have to worry about it once you get it set up. You'll know it's clean. The reason for the rinse, rinse, rinse, is to get all traces of the bleach/vinegar out.

 

To be safe, make sure your tank is completely dried if you decide to use bleach.

 

Isn't a 135G a bit small for a Golden Puffer? My LFS had an adult that was about 20" long and very thick. They had him in a 500G cube. Cool guy too, he would eat very gently out of your hand. Last they told me, a guy with an 800G bought him. Anyhow, congrats on the fish, they sure are pretty!