Got used tank .. have questions for resetup.

[fishtanker]

Hi All,

So i bought a used tank which is acrylic and its a 10 gallon. The previous owner said that it was a fresh water tank. However it is dirty and was dry since past long time.

So herez what i am planning to do to reset it up and cycle it :

Cleaning :
1) scrub the tank with very little dish washing soap.
2) clean the gravel with cold water.
3) the manual filter is very dirty so clean it with hot water.

re-cycling:
4) set the gravel and decorations and fill it with water.
5) set the manual filter with a new filter in it.
6) set the heater after cleaning it.
7) condition the water (declorinate it and condition it)
8) Add ammonia upto ph 5.0 ppm.
9) wait... till the nitrogen cycle is complete (as per the tutorial).

Pls let me know your views especially in the cleaning part, if i have missed something. Basically i want to clean everything good to remove all possible toxicity before i set it up for re-cycle.

T(h)anks for reading and t(h)anks in advance.

[ZeroSystem]

I would avoid using any type of soap if possible and just see what you can do with water and elbow grease. If you do have to use something then be sure to rinse it like crazy when you're done.

[fishtanker]

ohh ok .. then will not use soap at all and will scrub only with pure cold water. Also what is elbow grease ?

Thanks.

[Judge]

LOL, that is your own scrubbing power..using your "elbow". I agree with Zero. I would not use any soap of any kind. I have used vinegar on some tough water spots and even then I rinsed very thoroughly. Pics are always welcome and a nice way to document your progress!

[fishtanker]

Originally Posted by Judge

LOL, that is your own scrubbing power..using your "elbow". I agree with Zero. I would not use any soap of any kind. I have used vinegar on some tough water spots and even then I rinsed very thoroughly. Pics are always welcome and a nice way to document your progress!

aah ok but i did actually came across a product :

http://www.dooyoo.co.uk/household-pr...ose-degreaser/

but sure will not use any chemicals.. and also i am planning to document my entire cleaning progress for other newbies like me ...

Thanks for the info though.

[fishtanker]

Also once i clean up the tank and set it up for cycling, do i need to seed the bacteria by adding them to the water ? or i should just set the ammonia to 5ppm and wait ?

Thanks.