Rocketcoffin

Hello, just wondering what I should do to my aquarium to disinfect it. I tried doing a search, but couldn't find anything pertaining to my exact situation.

Here's a short back story - I have had my 50 gallon aquarium with one large Oscar for around 4 and a half years. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Oscar and all was well until around 4 months ago when he got hole in head. He had gotten various fungi's, and other fin / body ailments, but I was always able to get him squared away with a pet store fix of some kind, until the hole in head. I tried several different cures - powders, liquids, dissolving tabs, all with corresponding water and filter changes, but nothing worked, and his hole in head eventually ate away most of his face. He stopped eating, and died several days ago. It is upsetting, but I know he was suffering, so at least that is over with. I am currently deciding what fish to get next, but want to make sure this does not happen to the next fish I get - I basically want to make sure the tank is disease free before I throw a new occupant in.

So, my question is - what is the best way to disinfect a tank? I have a 50 gallon tank with a penguin 350 filter with the dual bio wheels. Any suggestions would be great. Thanks!

cassb

Well, I'm sure you've probably already considered emptying the tank and/or sterilizing with bleach? That would kill everyone organic in there, but you'd have to start all over again with cycling.

I'm not sure what the cause of your Hole in the head case was, but there are antibiotics (Furanace?) and also anti-parasite meds (potassium permanganate) that you could put in the water and pray it kills whatever the cause of the disease was.