Re: [Killietalk] Killietalk Digest, Vol 62, How to prperly clean a tank.

[Wright Huntley <whuntley at verizon_net>]

Bleach? Alcohol?

There's something cheaper and better. Dryness.

A tank washed out with hot water and a bit of dish detergent, and rinsed 
well, can be dried for a few days and it will be quite free of nuisance 
organisms. Be sure to use a scrubber to remove all residues and snail 
egg casings.

Over many years, I have become comfortable that a clean tank that has 
been dry for a while will not produce nasty bugs of any kind. I don't 
care what was in it before.

Letting it sit out in the sun adds UV disinfectant, BTW, if the sun 
reaches the insides without going through glass.

When refilling it, if the water is soft and doesn't cause suds, the 
detergent has been adequately removed. If harder water doesn't look 
cloudy or suds it may also be true.

Wet glass is lubricated by soap or detergent. If it is "squeeky" clean 
it is probably OK. Folks tend to get too exercised about this.

Get rid of incoming snail eggs and hydra by soaking new plants briefly 
in a strong Epsom Salt solution.

Cleaning tanks isn't a really big deal.

Wright.

-- 
"This, indeed, is an odd election: It pits a candidate who should have been president eight years ago against a candidate who should be president eight years from now." -- Tom Gallagher 

Wright Huntley - 805 Valley West Cir., Bishop CA 93514 
whuntley at verizon_net 760 872-3995. Cell 760 937-2276

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