properly sanitizing a used tank

[XoVictoryXo]

So I just got a 40 gallon long tank for $10 at the fleamarket! Can you believe it! so awesome!
Its pretty dirty like it sat in someones garage. Ew!
Please tell me tips how to sanitize it properly and safely!

Heard a ton of different ways, but I want to know everyone opinion here as well before I even start the process. Give me the safest option please. I have heard the following ways, ammonia, bleach, salt scrub, hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol.
what will kill any potential diseases but not kill my critters?

P.S. Crypto & salmonella scare the crap out of me!

 

[Aimless]

peroxide is really only effective against a small spectrum of bugs. I wouldn't use it.

I get used caging all the time and am Ms Paranoia when it comes to disease. in fact, I'm picking up a 40T this afternoon for one of my snakes

this is what I do:
get the debris off. I like to do this outside with a hose and an old rag.

spray the heck out of it with a quaternary ammonium based disinfectant. the exotic vets in our area recommend this as the best option to kill viruses, bacteria, fungi, and protozoan-type bugs. F10 and Roccal are great commercial products that are very heavy-duty. there are also some household cleaners that are quaternary ammonium-based; you have to be skilled in label-reading to find them.

then let it sit outside in the sun for a few days. let it get good and dry down to the crevices.

then rinse it thoroughly, scrub well with soap and hot water, rinse thoroughly again, and again dry very thoroughly.

you can't ever get 100% of everything, which is scary. but what else can you do? you can use bleach, although it's not as effective against enveloped viruses and is more likely to leave residue that is harmful. ammonia's excellent in concentrated form, but you can't really buy that OTC; household ammonia is dilute. rubbing alchohol is like bleach; great against some things, but not against others.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

Ok thanks hun, decisions, decisions! it is scary!
good idea about sitting out in the sun! have to wait for it to stop raining first of course lol

 

[Aimless]

no prob. my first year with the local rescue there was an outbreak of IBD and we also learned about crypto. we had a consultation with the vets that worked with our organization and this advice comes from them (and also from my experience in a prior job as a professional Microbiologist with a BS in Microbiology; that's where the "sunshine" comes in).

salmonella is easy to kill. don't be overly concerned about it. think how easy it is to deal with in your kitchen; it's the same bug, just different strains. crypto and viruses, not so much

 

[Mardy]

Agreed with the above, Ammonia's the only thing effective at killing crypto, giardia, and coccidia oocysts.

Whatever you do, don't mix ammonia with bleach, it can create toxic fumes that's very toxic to both you and the animals.

 

[XoVictoryXo]

how does this sound. i want to make sure I dont screw anything up, lol
1. initial power washing the dirt off.
2. let it sit outside in household ammonia - for a day (yuck - kitty litter like fumes!) .
(should i mix household ammonia with water?)
3. air dry 3 days in sun
4. wash with hot water, and what kind of soap, is dawn dish soap ok?
5. air dry 1-3 days in sun.

think its ok to go after this? Im pretty sure it will be impossible to find the F10 and Roccal cleaners.

 

[Aimless]

I think that works.

you can dilute ammonia in water, but the more you dilute the less effective it becomes. you can intensify the disinfectant effect if you put it in a big heavy-duty trashbag and seal it off (then the fumes will work to kill stuff too).

yeah, dish soap is fine. use plenty, and plenty of hot water. green scratchies won't harm tank glass, either

 

[XoVictoryXo]

AWESOME, thanks for the tips!
I hope I can find more deals like this in the future lol what a steal! there was no lid however, so Ill have to find one that fits.