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Re: sterilizing tanks, plants nets and filters
> >
> > Hello all
> > I want to improve the hygiene in my fishroom. I seem to get mixed
> > advice. I am not so interested in velvet etc, more things that can cause
> > adult onset belly sliding- bacteria/viruses can anyone tell me how they
> > sterilise all the above (wrt bacteria/viruses).
>
> I use more nets than I need and let them get *really* dry between uses. That
> gets almost as many pathogens as true sterilization without taking any time
> and destroying the nets.
>
> Drying cleaned tanks 100% in the sun is most effective with least time and
> work.
>
I believe there are lots of pathogens that do form cysts that are
completely resistant to heat and drying. I am not sure which of the
aquariums strains are, but lots of human pathogens are.
> > I normally use hot water on filters too, but I
> > am always short of fully mature filters. Can I kill off all 'bad' bacteria
> > in an empty tank/filter without stripping it all down? What about viruses?
> > Can they survive long without a host?
>
> Washing out all organic gunk and completely drying it out is effective, but
> there is no way to sterilize and keep the "good" bacteria that convert
> ammonia. Soaking in a 5% bleach solution is pretty good if the materials can
> take it without too much damage (most plastics can't). Soaking in dechlor
> will then be needed to get rid of the chlorine, tho. IMHO, it is more
> dangerous than bacteria or virus.
>
Wright is right here. 5% bleach solution is confusing for some to figure
out. An easier method which will kill all (maybe that should be most)
bacteria and "kill" virus's is 1 part bleach to 19 parts water. That is
the solution that we use in a laboratory where work on pathogens is
done. We do use stronger disinfectants however for more virulent
bacteria. You can keep a small pail in your fish room and keep your nets
in that. It is a week enough solution that it doesn't seem to degrade
inorganic materials such as synthetic nets.
bill wrote:
> Hot water will definitely kill the bacteria but will leave a number of
> viruses alone.
>
Not completely true. Temperature to kill bacteria is also dependent on
time and pressure. Tap water temps are not hot enough. I believe the
normal killing temp/time at normal pressure is 30 minutes at 145 F. That
still will leave many cysts alone.
I think that the overall best thing to do is to keep health fish and
don't worry about them. Wrights quarantining is a good idea.
I think it is to easy to get all caught up in the hype about disease and
our pets (and us) a healthy immune system is the best defense against
many of these bad bugs. I think these sterilization practices are good
only if you have recently just had a bad outbreak in a particular tank.
Then treat that tank with special care. Treat the rest as normal.
Jeremy
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