luv_my_fish Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 I need to use a heater that was in contaminated water. How can I 'disinfect' it? I need it to keep some fry warm :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 you could use salt or plain household bleach unscented Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Bleach for 10 mins will work fine, but can chew suction cups. Unfortunately they provide ample safe places for pathogens so you can't really leave them. If it makes then unsticky, Blacktown Pet & Produce & Strictly stock replacements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender Posted February 20, 2009 Report Share Posted February 20, 2009 Would boiling the suction cups eat them too? Might be worth trying, 5 min is the recommended time for sanitation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jo oakley Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 hey Bender that what I thought, boiling could be the go Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 Worth a shot, not sure what it'll do to the rubber or plastic but I'd assumer it'd be heat tolerant. Let us know :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 No need for boiling or chemical baths let it dry....works for nets too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted February 21, 2009 Report Share Posted February 21, 2009 or you could use a strong saline solution. Let it dry out in the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 Drying does work on most things, but heaters are full of nooks and crannies where plastic meets glass, and rubber is worse. I think the timeframe for natural drying (reads as though the heating is necessary soon) would not be long enough to ensure that these areas were completely dry. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted February 22, 2009 Report Share Posted February 22, 2009 You could hit it with a hairdryer :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 That could actually work pretty well I was trying to think of a way to bake it without things melting, but a hairdryer might just do the trick :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 it is great when you need paint to dry in a hurry! :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Billphil Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 I feel the rubber parts on a heater would be the most difficult to decontaminate and any strong attempts at decontamination could affect the integrity of the rubber. Given the cheapness of replacement heaters these days, I would not take the risk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv_my_fish Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 New problem... I stupidly dipped the plug part of it in some of my aging water. I was holding it and didn't realise it was in there How safe would it be for me to still use it? Or is all hope lost for that heater? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 You could take it to an electrician specialising in small appliances and have it checked.....but it would probably be cheaper to buy a New one If you are worried about it infecting your tank and shorting because the plug was in water then a new one will help you sleep better.... Years ago they sold spare parts for heaters....now if you ask for spares they just Laugh at you!!! Me....I'd let it dry and use it....but it's your choice :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Oh dear Do you need to borrow one for a while? Ive done similar things and just let them dry thoroughly for a few weeks and it has been fine. I'm not sure if it is sensible, but I kinda forget that they've been swimming and only remember later on once things are working again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv_my_fish Posted February 23, 2009 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Yeah, I'll probably just go buy another one. I don't have the best luck with electricity. I almost electricuted myself the other week with my BS hatchery. Thank God for trip switches!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Poor Mel! I gave myself however many volts you get from a tank heater when I was 7 months pregnant. That wasn't nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chorrylan Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 for disinfecting I prefer a strong potassium permanaganate solution to bleach primarily because there's no doubt about whether you've left any traces afterwards whereas bleach always makes me feel uncertain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted February 23, 2009 Report Share Posted February 23, 2009 Me too! The problem these days is getting a hold of it. :confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luv_my_fish Posted March 18, 2009 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 I didn't want to make a whole new thread to ask this little question, so I thought I would bring this one back up as it sort of applies How will I know if I get all of the bleach out of my tank after I have cleaned it? I'm re-doing my 2ft tank seeing as though it is empty now. I've just bleach cleaned it and it is sitting out in the sun at the moment. I will rinse it out again another 50 billion times before I think it is safe lol. But is there an easier way to find out if all the bleach is gone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callatya Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 Does it smell bleachy and is it slippery to touch? Not exactly precise, but they seem to be good ways to tell. :betta: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuckie Posted March 18, 2009 Report Share Posted March 18, 2009 get a cheap dechlorinator and rinse with a strong dose in there (like, 10x the proper dose) once it doesn't feel slimy any more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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