Cleaning a Used Tank

[Darkwynd]

I'm buying a 10 gallon from a coworker to use as temporary housing for my abundance of bristlenoses and then as a QT. It was used to house a hamster, do I need to take any special precautions to clean it properly before putting fish in? I've only ever just rinsed tanks out really well before using them in the past, is there anything in particular I need to hit it with to make sure there's no rodent residue?

On a side note: Any suggestions for what to put in a 10 gal if I can talk my wife into letting me keep it running and not just using it for a QT? Dwarf gourami and some neon tetra?

[TaTeR ToT]

Hampsters are very dirty, I honestly would say purchase a new one.

But if you must, I would use a 1 part vinegar to 5 parts water mixture and rinse thoroughly.

[mgarrido]

I agree with Brian, that tank is maybe full of hamster pee (ammonia) and needs to be cleaned very well.

[CichlidFan]

in our disposable nation....i would have to agree....toss out that old junk and just go buy another one...you'll be doing your fish a solid and helping the economy...smiles.

CF

[CichlidFan]

I'm sorry....I was being scarcastic...I'm in a lousy mood.....do as Brian suggests.....just clean it well...and save your money...

CF

[jhenry]

I would say get a new tank. You're going to spend more time and effort cleaning it hoping it will be clean while $20.00 can buy you a new one

[Darkwynd]

There's been a new development in the tank situation: when I went to pick it up, the lady selling it discovered that it is cracked (pics below). She let me have it for free since she doesn't have any use for it; is there any way to salvage this or is it officially a wash? (I have a 15 gallon that we are planning to use for gerbils in the near future, and I'm trying to talk my wife into using this one for the gerbils and the 15 for fish, but I promised I'd ask if there was a way to still use the 10 for fish first.)

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_a_9DO_dougo/TdRI7TAPXSI/AAAAAAAAAP4/7Oomnq-lPfU/s400/DSC04344.JPG

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/_a_9DO_dougo/TdRI7KeKiCI/AAAAAAAAAP0/FPXC37c_PKc/s144/DSC04342.JPG

[jhenry]

Use the 10g for the gerbals and the 15g fish IMO

[armthehomeless]

Use the 10g for the gerbals and the 15g fish IMO

Agreed.