Fish: Re: [tropical fish club] Re: Planted tank ?'s

I did state that Muratic was concentrated Hydrochloric.

It was a used tank that someone had used several times too much, a whole
bottle in a 29 that should have treated 300 gallons, in and couldn't
understand why the fish kept dying. I tossed the gravel and everything
else that came with it. I use Muratic in my other hobby so it was on
hand and I know how to handle it. The combination of Copper and hard
water caused a buildup of crusty crud that bleach probably wouldn't have
done much for. They never changed water just replaced what evaporated
then left the water and decorations in it for months after all the fish
were dead but I couldn't pass up a 29 for $10. After 25 years I can
still remember the stench when I pulled the undergravel out.

When getting a used tank or moving one I flush it and everything with
about 2% bleach for a day or two and start with 1/2 aged water (if
available) and a few mollies to get the bio filtration going. Setting up
another 29 for a pair of koi angels that have paired off. Hope to be
posting pics of fry before too much longer.

On 8/30/2012 21:48, Bill Davies wrote:
>
>
> I may be mistaken however I believe that muriatic acid is a dilute form
> of hydrogen chloride (hydrochloric acid). Copper in any form,
> hydrochloric or any other acid, is at best risky. I have been a fish
> keeper for over 40 years and have never had to resort to these extreme
> measures. Yes, I have washed out a few tanks in my day however I never
> regretted doing that. It was a new beginning. If any of you readers
> would like to see my handywork please mention it.
>
> On 30-Aug-12 17:41, Tim Hills wrote:
> >
> > I have "recovered" a tank that had a Copper solution used in it and
> > stained the silicone blue. Afterwards ghost shrimp thrived in that tank.
> >
> > Muriatic (concentrated Hydrochloric) Acid, the kind used for etching
> > concrete will dissolve out the remaining Copper. Neutralize the tank
> > with strong Thiosulphate afterwards.
> >
> > I would NOT recommend anyone who isn't familiar with the safe handling
> > of strong acids to even think about it though. Cu Sulphates and Oxides
> > can also be reduced to Chlorides with standard bleach but plan on having
> > your tank sitting full of fixer for a week or so after.
> >
> > Tim Hills
> >
> > On 8/30/2012 15:02, Dawn Moneyhan wrote:
> > >
> > > Just a quick warning about this stuff... not all fish can tolerate it
> > > either. Some fish, in particular scaleless (loaches, some kinds of
> > > catfish, etc) are very sensitive to anything with copper in it.
> > > Copper also leaves a residue in the silicone, so once it is used in a
> > > tank then there is very little chance of any inverts (shrimps, snails,
> > > etc) of any species to survive in that tank in the future. I wish
> > > these companies would put proper and complete warnings on these kinds
> > > of products.
> > >
> > > Dawn
> > >
> > > Dawn Moneyhan
> > > Aquatics Specialist/Nutritionist
> > > To learn more about me go to
> > > http://www.helium.com/users/449334
> > >
> > >
> >
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> >
> >
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>

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