Cleaning the tank

Question
Hi Christy,
I have just emptied my 20 gallon fish tank. I cleaned it with aquarium salt but it left marks on the sides. What else can I use to clean my tank? Would water and vinegar be safe for the fish?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Olivier
Are you cleaning it because it's a newly bought tank?  Or are you cleaning it because it's something you do every month?

For a newly bought tank-that was purchased used, I would recommend using a bleach water solution to clean/disinfect it.  Be sure to rinse it well, and also be sure to use a dechlorinator when you fill it up with water.  Bleach is a milder form of chlorine, so the dechlorinator should take care of it.

Vinegar is safe to use to clean fish tanks-I use a vinegar/water spray to clean the outside glass.  Again, just rinse it well, vinegar can adjust the ph of the water.

Now, if this is an established tank, and you break it down on a regular basis to clean it, I would recommend NOT doing that.  Emptying the tank, and scrubbing everything down will kill off most of your beneficial bacteria that's established in the tank, thus causing your tank to go through another cycle process(ammonia and nitrite spike).  Your best bet, is to do weekly water changes, about 25%.  Be sure to vacuum the gravel good each week with a gravel vacuum/syphon.  If you start getting algae on the sides or decorations, some fish will eat this, otherwise your best bet is to use an algae scraper or pad to remove it(with the tank still full).  For decorations, use a bucket with used tank water in it, get a new toothbrush, and put the rocks or decorations in the bucket and scrub with the toothbrush.  At least once a month, clean off the filter pad in the bucket of used tank water as well.  This will help prolong their life for another 2-3 months.

Hope that helps, and let me know if you have more questions!

Christy