How long to let a fish tank sit after bleaching?

Question

I tore apart my 20 gallon tank about a week and a half ago. We had disease introduced by a local chain pet store and lost everything despite trying several different treatments correctly. I realize that I will have to recycle it, which is fine. Last night, I cleaned all non-porous surfaces from the tank with bleach. I have heard I could have let it sit for over a month and most diseases would die off, but I could not chance losing more fish again like this. We had ich and a fungal infection both that I know of, but may have something else as well based on the symptoms by a few of the last fish to go. How long do I have to let it sit before I can reassemble it and start cycling again? Please do not tell me I can not use bleach or get nasty about me disassembling the tank. It is my children's tank and I do not want to take any chance at another issue like this. We have 4 other tanks and did buy a quarantine/hospital tank now so that we can isolate new fish. Thanks!

Answer 1

.....may we just get right to the point? :)

...you did the right thing, and let it dry, now you can rinse it well, to be sure the remaining bleach (if any) is well diluted, and proceed in restting your tank....dechlorinate and begin recycling

CHLORINE BLEACH is SAFE diluted properly

....i included the website for a second opinion along with mine...and everyone else' toooo :)

...we all use bleach to clean sooner or later...I mean really!

VINEGAR is SAFE

and if any crusty caliciferous type deposits persist get some vinegar and clean them right up....use an old toothbrush redidicated to the aquairum uses, as well as, the dedicated plastic bucket

AS FOR NEW FISH

just to be on the safe side regarding any malingering disease or parasite....perhaps you might start with some less expensive varieties, such as 'White Clouds" or " Zebra Danios" as the starter fish that you can add after the tank filter has cycled for about 1.5 to 2 weeks

....and i always go to the pet store and ask for a complimentary water test of a sample of my 'new tank water' after about 1 week....then I can also purchase 2 or 3 new fish to jump-start the bacteria colony

....also, I am a big advocate of live plants

...live plants absorb ammonia and nitrAtes and provide a good buffer in the tank for those moments of ammonia spikes or nitrAte build-ups that may occur in between the routine water changes

...my plant preferences include dwarf mondo grass (just like the kind that grows in flower beds....i just wash off all the dirt from the roots and plant right into the gravel of the tank

...also I like vallisneria spirulata 14" to 16" or the shorter version known as 'curly vallisneria' grows to 12"

...both are curly grass-like and all three of the above like all grass, love to eat ammonia and nitrAtes

...as a fourth plant i suggest sagitteria subulata 12" to 14" oval-type leaves

...also, little African Dwarf Frogs (without claws) are also really neat to watch and good to keep among danios, tetras and white clouds

...I hope your kids enjoy the new tank!

Answer 2

lay it under the sun for atleast a day or two, rinse it again after and double dose on water conditioner and your set

Answer 3

All you have to do with bleach is rinse until you can no longer smell it anymore. A lot of aquarist use bleach to clean their tanks and supplies.

Answer 4

Bleach is just chlorine based, which dissipates pretty quickly.  It should also take care of whatever issues you had immediately.  As long as you are getting new gravel and other tank equipment, there shouldn't be any problem at all with putting it back together almost immediately.

Ich isn't that big of a deal, as long as you recognize it early enough to treat it with any of a number of widely available cures.  Fungal infections can be more difficult.  There are some that are no big deal, but there are others that you simply need to get rid of the fish that has it.