The Puffer Forum

I received a 55 gallon tank and stand from a family member. She had very recently lost her goldfish to Ich, in this tank. The filters included with it are dinosaurs (not longer produced), so I tossed those out, so all I have is the tank, lights and stand. How do I go about sterilizing the inside of the tank without having to put it outside? (I have an AC 110 and AC 70 on its way for new filtration, and will be using cycled media to get it going). My biggest concern is the fact I will be using my cycled media and the last thing I want to do is have to medicate a tank and lose all of bb in my media and have to start over.

Also, I have heard both yes and no answers to this question, but I would like to get more insight... I know that it is said the GSP's need 30 gallons per fish. Would it be wise to house two together in my 55? If not, I plan on getting a couple Figure 8's, they're just harder to come by.
Thanks for reading, and for your advice!

If the tank hasn't been used for awhile then all the ich will be dead and there will be no need for sterilizing the tank. If you really want to clean it, I would just use vinegar. Also 1 GSP would be fine in your 55. If you want more than 1 puffer, go with F8s and you could also add mollies or a few bumblebee gobies, maybe a dragon goby or knight goby. IMO I would go with F8s and bumblee gobies, I would love to have a 55, but I cannot at the moment. Anyway, The Ich should be dead if the tank hasn't been used for a couple days, emptied and dried, I think. Just use some vinegar and clean it up and you will be fine.

I would clean it with a vinegar solution, fill it up and just let it sit while you wait for your filters. Ich dies off if it has nothing to live on/breed on and the vinegar should kill it immediately, so I wouldn't worry ^^

It doesn't matter how old the filter is, if water is running through it and there is filter media inside it then it's a filter and it will do all the filtration that a modern filter of similar size and flow can.

Maybe I'm replying to this post because I need to reassure myself that even though I'm getting older I'm not ready for the proverbial scrap heap just yet...

lol Ilive, I do agree with you. As long as the filter runs and seems to be running well, age means nothing

+1 to ilive and xray ref filter.But i would only scrub tank with vinegar if heavily soiled with watermarks etc. If recently torn down and if in doubt leave empty for a few days and no ich will survive, or if fishless cycling ich wont survive without a host

Um, ok.. sorry to offend anyone about "old"filters...? I threw them out because they were "old", as in missing tops, small cracks, etc. Just didn't seem like a good idea to use filters filters with small cracks at the top, with no covers, I just wasn't going to risk not being home and a filter breaking down or spilling water everywhere... But, thanks to those who advised using the vinegar, I think I'll go ahead and give it wipe down!

Ah I see. You meant old and useless lol

Get a heaping scoop of Oxyclean & swish it around everything you want to keep. 1 good rinse with warm water is all you'll need.

tiffkris wrote:Um, ok.. sorry to offend anyone about "old"filters...? I threw them out because they were "old", as in missing tops, small cracks, etc. Just didn't seem like a good idea to use filters filters with small cracks at the top, with no covers, I just wasn't going to risk not being home and a filter breaking down or spilling water everywhere... But, thanks to those who advised using the vinegar, I think I'll go ahead and give it wipe down!

No offence taken. My post was for yourself and anyone else that reads the thread; some think that a filter is more than merely a box with a pump and some porous material.