cleaning a SW tank for fresh

cath · 06-12-2008, 02:10 PM

I have an old SW 29 that I want to give to a co-worker. What do I need to do to be sure that it is sparkling clean and free of SW residue?

TIA

Caball362 · 06-12-2008, 02:29 PM

Vinager ! thats how i clean all my tanks Rinse a few times to be safe but it should be good

OneDummHikk · 06-12-2008, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cath

I have an old SW 29 that I want to give to a co-worker. What do I need to do to be sure that it is sparkling clean and free of SW residue?

TIA

Gasoline and turpentine?

Vinegar and water. Fill it with tap water, let it sit for a day or two to "soften up" the salt residues, add the vinegar, wait another day or two, then scrub it clean.

Wiskey · 06-12-2008, 03:08 PM

I agree with the above,.. my old 50G I went freshwater with and I used Viniger and water to clean it up.

Whiskey

reginanmc · 06-12-2008, 03:36 PM

how much vineger should be used for 29g? I have one that needs cleaning as well

OneDummHikk · 06-12-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reginanmc

how much vineger should be used for 29g? I have one that needs cleaning as well

When I cleaned my 90, I put a gallon in it. Not sure if there is a "rule" for how much to use. I think its one of those things where the more you add, the quicker it will work but you can get to where you have added too much.

Caball362 · 06-12-2008, 03:54 PM

Lol i added 3gals to my 75 and let it sit for a while. (I know SUPER over kill

)

I would say 1 quort would be good enuff leave it for a day or 2.

Then rinse and anything left that a paper towel and soke in some viniger and wpe of the rest.

Wiskey · 06-12-2008, 03:55 PM

I will often times spray the tank with straight viniger,... let it sit - scrub and repeat. Worked great for cleaning up my 180, and I got a workout.

Whiskey

Loverotties · 06-12-2008, 04:00 PM

Yep Viniger is the best!

cath · 06-12-2008, 07:11 PM

Thanks, guys

You mean almost fill the tank and add a gallon of vinegar?

aquawolf · 06-12-2008, 07:25 PM

I also went with Whiskey's way which is a little more work, but just used straight vinegar on an old dish rag and scrubbed it out. Then rinsed thoroughly. Putting water in the tank and then adding the vinegar will be like pre-soaking the dishes and soften the stuff up a whole lot more so that you do not have to "scrub" nearly as hard.

OneDummHikk · 06-12-2008, 07:29 PM

Cath, which way you go depends on how much time you have and how much elbow grease you want to use up. I always let them soak so that I don't have to do a lot of scrubbing because of my back. Tracy cleaned hers (30G) with straight vinegar and scrubbed. Letting it soak loosens it up (like michael said) and saves you a lot of scrubbing. Takes a few days longer though.

aquawolf · 06-12-2008, 07:44 PM

I have a slight problem with being patient at times.

For example, I arrived on James Island at 10:30 AM Memorial Day to pick up the 60 gallon acrylic tank. We had it emptied, rinsed out, and everything loaded at 12:30. I met Tony and his wife for lunch and drove home. I got home around 4:30 and brought the livestock in the house. I then took the vinegar and a rag and some towels and went to work on the 50 gallon. Everything was moved from the 29 gallon to the 50 gallon and getting settled in by 8:00 PM.

Granted, that was going from saltwater to saltwater, but the principle is the same.

OneDummHikk · 06-12-2008, 07:52 PM

Even if you had gone from SW to FW, it wouldn't have hurt to just wiped it down. It was still damp and hand't dried on for days. When I cleaned my 90, it had been dry for about 2 months. Nice and dried on. For SW to FW, if the tank is still wet (not dried completely), then leaving it alone won't hurt the FW, just make it 1.001 brackish water and if you add aquarium salt to it, you won't know the difference

cath · 06-12-2008, 10:38 PM

Good discussion, guys. Thanks