To all my fish experts i need help again?

Question

one of my family members is trying to give me a 55 gallon fish tank but my dad says its too big so i was wondering if i should just take the ornaments, gravel and fake plants and put it in my 20 gallon tank but i have to questions is this good and my other question is how do i clean these ornaments and etc. or should i not clean them for the helpful bacteria to attack the ammonia.

Answer 1

I wouldn't bleach them but I would dip them into boiling water a few times and scrub them with a clean brush no soap's or chemicals I would also try and talk you dad in to letting you get the tank even if it means just storeing it some place and not setting it up after he see's your tank for a while he may decide to set the 55 up after all dads are funny that way

and when you tell him 55's normaly run close to 200 bucks just the tank he may go along with the storeing it part

Answer 2

Where is this family member? I will take the tank and let you have anything that you want in it. No seriously, make sure that there is room in the 20 gallon tank so that the fish have enough room to swim in.  A 55 gallon tank only has twice as much floor space but holds two and one half as much water. Another thing to consider is that it is easier to take care of a larger tank than it is to take care of a smaller tank. The temp and pH do not fluctuate as much in a larger tank as in the smaller tank and therefor the fish will not get shocked as easily (unless you do a major water change on the large tank.

Answer 3

i would bleach them and make sure i rinse and scrub them thouroughly before i put them in, but make sure you dont put in too much and have no room for your fish to be free

Answer 4

Seriously? "i think i was the one who should be asking all the questions?" They were just trying to get more info. You realize that that response comes off as rude?

Answer 5

Dang!  I'll take the tank!  :p

Too bad about your dad.  You can use the stuff from the 55 g tank.  If you want to clean it all off, just scrub it with a mild solution of bleach and water (like 10%) and then rinse it well.  As to whether you should try to preserve any bacteria that may be on it, isn't your own tank already cycled?  If it is, then there isn't much point.  Besides, do you know that no fish in the 55g have ever died or been ill?  Why is your family member getting rid of it?  What happened to the fish that were in it?  Even if the tank was perfectly clean and disease free, for the bacteria on the stuff to survive, it has to go from the 55g's water to your water pretty fast.  Like within a few hours.  Otherwise there'd be a big market in used filter media for new tank buyers.