What to do w/ tank after a fish dies

artgalnj

So my angelfish died this morning. I had him in a 20g tank (by himself) for the last 2 weeks where I was medicating him. I don't really know what he had, I think it was swim bladder that progressed into secondary issues. At any rate, I would like to keep the tank up and running and perhaps use it as a quarantine tank for new fish. Is there something I'm supposed to do in the ways of cleaning the tank and/or filter? I don't want to risk getting new fish sick.

SinCrisis

Dose with a broad spectrum med, and then preform a full water change.

MoneyMitch

^ exactly what i would do, might even want to do a good size w/c before the med. remember to take out any carbon before you med the tank. Money

artgalnj

Thank you both for the advice. The curent filter doesn't have carbon in it (I removed it while treating the sick fish). What do you consider a broad spectrum med? Maracyn? I was medicating the fish with a combo of Maracyn & Maracyn 2. I have some left over.

Thank you again for the info. I knew there had to be a way of doing this without ripping the whole tank apart.

Lupin

If it were me, I'd simply clean the tank all over and use 10% bleach solution or potassium permanganate.

aunt kymmie

Good old potassium permanganate. It kills EVERYTHING. It will also stain permeable items and surfaces purple so caution should be used. I wear medical gloves when using it and in the future will try to avoid spilling it on my front porch.

artgalnj

The coop near me sells potassium permanganate but I have to buy 5 lbs for $25.00, I really don't want to spend that much to clean the tank (and I don't want everything to turn purple, although I think purple is a nice color ). I also have live plants in the tank and I would hate to throw them out or kill them when cleaning with bleach.

Someone told me that hydrogen peroxide will kill everything including the beneficial bacteria in the filter. Is that true and if so could I run that through my tank?

SinCrisis

well peroxide would probably kill your plants...

MoneyMitch

just use a bleach solution as the guy above mentioned. then after you have let it run for a day or so put ur plants and filter inserts back in and throw in some water conditioner and boom ur ready for a fresh start. Money

aunt kymmie

Yes, a bleach solution is good, and a heck of alot cheaper than the "purple" stuff I use.
Your plants will do fine in a bucket temporarily. I have pulled my plants, but them in a five gallon bucket with water, a heater and a light fixture sitting securely across the top of the bucket. You may not need to go that far but I had to keep my plants in a bucket for two weeks, entirely for another reason.