so my neighbor threw out his old reptile tank (29 gallons) so i went and scooped it up. its glass and was used for a small snake. what do i do to clean it? i plan on using it as a q tank
you could use some vinegar too money....but I'm always 2nd guessing using chemicals...I always cleaned my tank, like mollies said, with some plain paper towels and some elbow grease.
I'd use bleach if it housed a reptile.Just remember to rinse obsessively, then let it sit in the sun for a few days, then once again rinse obsessively. This should kill and nasty disease or bacteria that may be lurking.
Why did he get rid of the tank? Did the snake die or was it sold to someone else?
it outgrew this one, thanks for the info guys. its gunna work out great cause i already have hoods that will fit it and lights from my 55 that i can transfer over when i get my new lights.
This was the first thing that went through my head too. If the tank was intended for reptile use only, like a critter cage, then it will not be a good idea to use it as a fish tank. Could you take a picture of it? Also, measure the thickness of the glass, and inspect the silicone seal to make sure it still looks decent. It's very important to find out if it is even an actual fish tank first.
I would HIGHLY recommend staying away from using any kind of harsh chemicals, even bleach to clean the tank. All you will need is to rinse the tank thoroughly, and maybe give it a scrub with a clean brush or rag. Use hot water if you wish, and a small amount of vinegar would be okay too.
glass is a little less than 1/4 a inch, ive filled it with water and it holds it just fine and in fact its still got water in it out in my gargae to see if itll hold up. i ended up using windex on it, that was the same stuff i used on my 55 thats set up now and everythings fine. i just let the tank hold water for about two weeks before i added any fish.
Windex does make a vinager based cleaner now. I've used it in various types of reptile/amphibian/aquatic tanks with no problems. The thing to remember is that no matter what you use(personally I wouldn't use anything extreme) it's wise to rinse, then rinse, then rinse, then rinse and dry.
Suggestions for tough spots:
hard water stains- take some paper towels and soak them in distilled vinager and place that flat on the surface, let it set for 20-30 mins. wipe. repeat if necessary.
general cleaning- lime or lemon juice. rinse well afterwards.
i already got water in it and am just waiting for a nice deal on a filter to appear on craigslist. thanks guys!!
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