Old gerbil aquarium

DownwardDawg · 04/30/2011, 12:54 PM

My son has a 20 gal (long) aquarium that presently houses gerbils. He may be giving them away and I, being the opportunist, was wondering if I could use this tank for anything. refugium, top-off water, qt....anything?

Anthrax15 · 04/30/2011, 01:17 PM

Yeah you can use it for anything. Just do a very deep cleaning on it.

DownwardDawg · 04/30/2011, 01:23 PM

Like lots of vinegar and water?

Bamm Bamm · 04/30/2011, 01:43 PM

vinegar and water would work perfect

DownwardDawg · 04/30/2011, 02:24 PM

Thanks for the replies. One can never be too careful...I have learned.

Bamm Bamm · 04/30/2011, 02:30 PM

It's always better to ask then risk killing everything in a tank=)

disc1 · 04/30/2011, 02:32 PM

The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Or anything about a 3 foot cooling pond under your sump.

DownwardDawg · 04/30/2011, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by disc1

the only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Or anything about a 3 foot cooling pond under your sump.

lmao!!!!!

Mouse · 04/30/2011, 11:14 PM

Are you guys sure on this? My knee jerk reaction to the Q is "Yes you can use it for anything...... anything but reef related"
Im not saying yea or neh , just seems risky over a $20 tank

geaux xman · 04/30/2011, 11:18 PM

i would do a bleach bath, then wipe it down with vinegar. theres no telling what kind of parasites those gerbils might put in the tank. bleach for sure would knock it all out.

then use it as a QT.

clownfreak · 05/01/2011, 01:59 AM

I would bleach it, just to disinfect it of any possibly contaminents. Probably rinse, then wipe down with some bleach water mix, then fill and add bleach, let sit for a day and then let it air dry before use.

Mr James · 05/01/2011, 06:02 AM

I have always been trained that if it housed anything but fish, it is not safe. I understood that the urine from the animals can get into the seams and leach out later.

I would NOT use the tank.

DownwardDawg · 05/01/2011, 09:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr James

I have always been trained that if it housed anything but fish, it is not safe. I understood that the urine from the animals can get into the seams and leach out later.

I would NOT use the tank.

See, this was my concern. Urine, which would be ammonia, leeching from the seems. It may not be worth the risk but I'll keep researching. Just hate throwing away a tank!

billdogg · 05/01/2011, 10:01 AM

A through washing and it will be fine. The seams WILL NOT absorb enough of anything to make a difference. Heck - you want (and need) some ammonia to cycle the tank anyway.

A more important question - is it really a fish tank? there are two seperate types of glass tanks - reptile and fish. The reptile tanks do not have as thick of glass and are not necessarily water tight.

DownwardDawg · 05/01/2011, 12:47 PM

Yes, it's a fish tank. Grabbed it at Pet Smart for him a while back. Good point though.
I may use it as a seperate refugium from from a tee off my return pump or something. I'm moving this summer so the 125 is on hold but my head won't stop thinking of all the options!

04/30/2011, 12:54 PM	#1
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Old gerbil aquarium My son has a 20 gal (long) aquarium that presently houses gerbils. He may be giving them away and I, being the opportunist, was wondering if I could use this tank for anything. refugium, top-off water, qt....anything? __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

04/30/2011, 01:23 PM	#3
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Like lots of vinegar and water? __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

04/30/2011, 01:43 PM	#4
Bamm Bamm Saltwater Guru Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Brentwood, NOR CAL Posts: 9,309	vinegar and water would work perfect __________________ 25g rimless cube in the works Current Tank Info: 60g cube

04/30/2011, 02:24 PM	#5
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Thanks for the replies. One can never be too careful...I have learned. __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

04/30/2011, 02:30 PM	#6
Bamm Bamm Saltwater Guru Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: Brentwood, NOR CAL Posts: 9,309	It's always better to ask then risk killing everything in a tank=) __________________ 25g rimless cube in the works Current Tank Info: 60g cube

04/30/2011, 01:17 PM	#2
Anthrax15 Registered Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: Mesa, AZ Posts: 1,837	Yeah you can use it for anything. Just do a very deep cleaning on it.

04/30/2011, 02:32 PM	#7
disc1 -RT * ln(k) Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Little Rock Posts: 9,705	The only stupid question is the one you don't ask. Or anything about a 3 foot cooling pond under your sump.

04/30/2011, 11:14 PM	#9
Mouse UnRegistered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Rio Linda CA Posts: 739	Are you guys sure on this? My knee jerk reaction to the Q is "Yes you can use it for anything...... anything but reef related" Im not saying yea or neh , just seems risky over a $20 tank __________________ Somedays it just isnt worth gnawing through the straps...... Current Tank Info: 125g > < this close to being set up

04/30/2011, 11:18 PM	#10
geaux xman Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Posts: 3,279	i would do a bleach bath, then wipe it down with vinegar. theres no telling what kind of parasites those gerbils might put in the tank. bleach for sure would knock it all out. then use it as a QT. __________________ - Miracles 180g 60x30x23" rimless FOWLR - Youtube video: Miracles 180g March 2013

05/01/2011, 01:59 AM	#11
clownfreak Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Posts: 405	I would bleach it, just to disinfect it of any possibly contaminents. Probably rinse, then wipe down with some bleach water mix, then fill and add bleach, let sit for a day and then let it air dry before use.

05/01/2011, 06:02 AM	#12
Mr James Premium Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Kernersville, NC Posts: 6,192	I have always been trained that if it housed anything but fish, it is not safe. I understood that the urine from the animals can get into the seams and leach out later. I would NOT use the tank.

05/01/2011, 10:01 AM	#14
billdogg Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Grove City, Ohio Posts: 10,806	A through washing and it will be fine. The seams WILL NOT absorb enough of anything to make a difference. Heck - you want (and need) some ammonia to cycle the tank anyway. A more important question - is it really a fish tank? there are two seperate types of glass tanks - reptile and fish. The reptile tanks do not have as thick of glass and are not necessarily water tight. __________________ I'll try to be nice if you try to be smarter! I can't help that I grow older, but you can't make me grow up! Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef with 40b sump, RO 150 skimmer, AI Sol Blue x 2, and a 60g Frag Tank with 100g rubbermaid sump. 2 x Kessil A360w lights, BM curve 5 skimmer

05/01/2011, 12:47 PM	#15
DownwardDawg Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2010 Posts: 838	Yes, it's a fish tank. Grabbed it at Pet Smart for him a while back. Good point though. I may use it as a seperate refugium from from a tee off my return pump or something. I'm moving this summer so the 125 is on hold but my head won't stop thinking of all the options! __________________ Current Tank: 125 gal mixed reef, 3-250 watt Radiums, T5 actinics, CS2 skimmer, RKL 60 gal "fun tank", 2-Ecotech Radions, Lifereef Overflow, build-in-progress

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
FOR SALE: 90 gal aquarium system and aquarium supplies	dfreakonature12	Arizona - Fish & Reef Aquarium Group (FRAG)	1	04/17/2011 07:34 PM