Best way to sterilise and clean equipment?

[yanni]

Currently about to clean my tank completely to tear it down and set it back up after losing a battle with GHA and lobophora algae, that’s now in my equipment.

What are the best ways to completely clean and sterilise my equipment so there’s no risk of transferring any algae spores or other nuisance algae?

 

[T-J]

Bleach.
Just make sure you are using a "pure bleach" and not something that has any "no splash" or fragrances added.

 

[Subsea]

I like hydrogen peroxide. Bleach is very caustic and requires very complete rinsing.

 

[Alex Cataldo]

There is no way to keep algae spores out of the tank, they even are in the salt that you use so tbh the best way to prevent algae is to control nutrients. Hydrogen peroxide can oxidize the rocks and equipment if your looking to really destroy the algae chemically, just make sure it’s diluted to 10:1 with RODI water.

 

[yanni]

Bleach.
Just make sure you are using a "pure bleach" and not something that has any "no splash" or fragrances added.

So I’m assuming scrub everything with bleach, then a very good rodi rinse out?

 

[yanni]

I like hydrogen peroxide. Bleach is very caustic and requires very complete rinsing.

is peroxide enough to kill everything?

 

[yanni]

There is no way to keep algae spores out of the tank, they even are in the salt that you use so tbh the best way to prevent algae is to control nutrients. Hydrogen peroxide can oxidize the rocks and equipment if your looking to really destroy the algae chemically, just make sure it’s diluted to 10:1 with RODI water.

I’m not keeping anything alive besides the coral and the fish, all my equipment will get a complete sterilisation, same as the tank. Rock n sand is being binned

 

[Mr. Mojo Rising]

I use vinegar to scrub then rinse

 

[Subsea]

is peroxide enough to kill everything?

I use peroxide to sanitize.

To sterilize, remove everything you wish to keep and raise temperature to 212 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. OR Add 1G of pure bleach to tank water and run as long as you smell bleach. Than drain and flush several times circulating thru all piping.

“Rock n sand is being binned”
PS: Why do you feel that your sand & rock don’t require the same sterilization.

 

[yanni]

I use peroxide to sanitize.

To sterilize, remove everything you wish to keep and raise temperature to 212 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes. OR Add 1G of pure bleach to tank water and run as long as you smell bleach. Than drain and flush several times circulating thru all piping.

I feel like the bleach is the safest bet. Do I drain n flush with RODI or tap water?

 

[nuxx]

Muriatic acid and water, then maybe vinegar and water and then water rinse?

 

[Subsea]

I feel like the bleach is the safest bet. Do I drain n flush with RODI or tap water?

I would not waste RODI water until last flush. Also on last flush, add peroxide and flush for a long time.

 

[Subsea]

I feel like the bleach is the safest bet. Do I drain n flush with RODI or tap water?

Bleach is NOT the safest bet, but it will kill & oxidize everything.

 

[yanni]

Muriatic acid and water, then maybe vinegar and water and then water rinse?

Is the vinegar and mirustic acid enough to kill it all tho?

 

[yanni]

Bleach is NOT the safest bet, but it will kill & oxidize everything.

It feels like the safest/easiest. I’m thinking a vinegar scrub, then a peroxide scrub, soak all my equipment in citric acid then peroxide scrub, then flush the tank once with RODI before refilling?

 

[nuxx]

Is the vinegar and mirustic acid enough to kill it all tho?

That acid is strong...

Nuked all my "clean" rock before starting my last tank with it...

 

[yanni]

That acid is strong...

Nuked all my "clean" rock before starting my last tank with it...

ooooh geez, how long did it take to nuke that rock hahaha

 

[nuxx]

ooooh geez, how long did it take to nuke that rock hahaha

An afternoon, then seeded for months

 

[yanni]

An afternoon, then seeded for months

Oooh that’s awesome. Once you nuked em, does it take long to get them cleaned and the acid out of the rock?

 

[Subsea]

Both myriatic acid & hydrogen peroxide are strong oxidizers that have no bad after effects. For your purposes, these are the safest fixes.

Bleach is never SAFE in a reef tank. Use appropriate flush and it’s potential collateral harm can be safely eliminated.