steps for cleaning a tank

I am breaking down my FW tank tommorow and I was wondering what steps I should take to clean it before converting it to SW.

 

empty every thing out. use razor blades to scrap off algae. use a 10% bleach solution to santize the insides. rinse repeat rinse, let dry for a couple hours.

 

done this myself a few times and I have used very simple method

1 - empty tank plus contents
2 - rinse with hot water, using a scotch/ abrasive pad to clean tank walls
3 -fill tank up and syphon out a couple of times
4 -mix a mild salt water solution and fill, syphon out

may be over the top
but thats how I go about it and they look like new tanks after this treatment

Steve

 

just in case the off chance this is a acrylic tank do not use a abrasive pad

 

Before you go too far, since this was a FW tank: did you ever use medications or copper in the tank?

 

there was some type of ick treatment that was used that did have malachite green in it but thats all that i can think of. Is there something special i need to do to clean that. That would of been used a long time ago

 

i would cut the silicon out of the tank and re silicon it. to be safe its invert safe but not coral safe

 

Im kind of curious does silicon absorb some medications or something? why do you think i should remove the silicon?

 

Yes it can collect copper are the seams a blueish color instead of white to opaque ? If so you simply run something like Kent's metal sponge Cutting out the silicone is not a good idea as the new that you replace it with will adhere to the old and unless you get the glass totally clean and clear of any on the old it will not bond and leave you with a weakened seam ..

 

Ozone will also oxydize the copper molecules in the tank.