Fletch Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 How does everyone sterilize after disease?? What do you use and in what ratio? What about the sponge filter? Have had some issues of late and have two tanks plus gravel to be done. Should I also dump the weed? Thanks everyone. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 H2O2 would be the best, plants can be sterilised but not any types of moss or pelia. You can get it from hydroponics stores. Bleach leaves some sort of film that is poisonus or something. I'll find a thread for you in a sec. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fletch Posted August 15, 2011 Author Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 You got me thinking Matt. Would the sterilizer used for bottles in a home brew kit work?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fishbites Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 condys crystals works well..... or hydrogen peroxide as Matt suggested.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 They use 33% H2O2 don't they? It would, it's the best, it's food grade. Still looking for my post on another forum with dosages sorry. Condies works too, but can stain IME H2O2 will neatralise that anyway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shadoh Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 I know I have a bottle of sterilizer for my home brew kit around here somewhere - just can't find it... I think you are right Matt - it is somewhere around the 30% - 40 % mark of H2O2, and yes, being food grade would be safer. I used bleach on a tank yesterday, threw the gravel on the garden and put new gravel in the tank (I didn't trust myself to rinse it out properly.) If I had of thought (and remembered where my bottle sterilizer was) I could have saved it Oh, and I used a weak bleach solution on the plants... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 Paul, will you be steralising the tank with fish in there? If not from memory 1ml per litre will kill everything. Anything that kills bad germs will kill the biofilter sorry you just have java fern don't you? It's so hardy, a 5 minute dip while the tanks are being dosed won't kill it. If it's your planted tank, every plant needs different dosages. I prefer to use condies to steralise plants also known as PP, a bottle from the chemist will last your grandkids life time :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melbournebetta Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 innnnnteresting.... I used a really mild dettol solution to clean up after the zombie disease - and no reoccurrence (very contagious) I now use a solution to store my nets in so they are clean after every use. Gravel and plants hit the bin.... but listen to Matt n Paul! my method sounds pretty slap-dash after H202 -Ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kertaz Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 I've been trying various methods. I used bleach solution, vinegar or potassium permanganate. I'm most happy with bleach solution. Potassium permangate can give stain to your clothes and/or the sink And I haven't tested extensively with vinegar too. Only used it a couple of times, so I can't really say I'm happy with it yet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bettarazzi Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 I use a hospital grade disinfectant containing bezalkonium chloride to sterilize tanks, beanie boxes, nets, wipe down surfaces etc. Although if you saw my fishroom you'd wonder when anything was ever wiped down. But I've been lucky and haven't had anything too nasty. I don't have a lot of expensive plants and most tanks are bare. So generally I can just chuck out the plants from the offending tank. I have a little bottle of condys crystals just in case. Haven't had to sterilize a sponge but boiling would be a good way I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted August 15, 2011 Report Share Posted August 15, 2011 I allways use isotol as I have a lot from TC and it dosnt hert the plants but stops all unwonteds I also use methonol to wipe out mytanks and jars as I have it as a by product from distilling Isotol can be got from the chemist Cheers Les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I personally scrub with salty, salty water, rinse really well, repeat. Then I fill the tank with potassium permanganate, and leave it. Rinse rinse rinse after a bit (usually for most of the day.. or when I remember *cough*). Yes, it does stain.. but nothing a good scrubbing can get off. White vinegar will be scrubbed all over.. and then bathed in it overnight. Rinsed again. Rinse it till you can rinse no more! Then the tank is left in the sun for a couple days. Sometimes a week.. as long as there is sun and until I want my tank back. Seems to work quite well for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 You can neutralize the PP with peroxide saves all that rinsing Don't get the PP on your skin, it makes you go brown *lol* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Don't get the PP on your skin, it makes you go brown Ah yes, I've figured that one out! Good tip - do NOT being sterilizing your tank just before you have to go somewhere. Young Grasshopper at karate: Dai Sempai Sarah? Why are your hands brown? Me: Young Grasshopper, it is potassium permanganate. A very confused seven-year-old young grasshopper look right about here. Me: I was using it to clean my fish tank. Young Grasshopper: You're funny. Various Young Grasshopper giggles at Dai Sempai Sarah's hands (it was only a little smear, honestly). Me: ALRIGGHHHTTTY.. PUSHUPS!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
les Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 (edited) OH Master(Sarah) Watashi wa debui sakana wo ka tte ima su HA HA Sionara water changer(Les) Edited August 16, 2011 by les Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarah Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 I no understand your wasabi talk... :notsure: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt_95 Posted August 16, 2011 Report Share Posted August 16, 2011 Les, watashi wa is what girls say, that's what I learnt in Japanese anyway. Boys say boku wa :P Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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