Silicone ok with vinegar soak?

jdavid

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Last night I filled up my 29 biocube with 3 gallons of vinegar and water (and I have to say, using a 5g bucket it did NOT take me 6 times to fill it. I think 4!!)

Then turned the pump on and let it run. Well, something just occurred to me. I have been running an acidic solution in my tank for almost a day now. Acidic solutions dissolve things.. any chance the silicone is damaged? anybody ever done this before with no ill effects?

Thanks,
Josh
 
You used a much stronger solution than I've ever run, but I've done for up to a week in several tanks with no I'll effects.

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I'm draining now, Then I'll probably fill back up with tap and let it run for a week or so.

I know people say they have bleached systems and the bryopsis comes back, so I'm hoping with no rock no sand and the 24 hour vinegar water+ 7 day tap water and there won't be anything left. Boiled the sand (large grain black sand) for 30 minutes on high and washed it out several times with RO water until the water coming off was clear(ish) after stirring. So I'm planning on reusing that. And the rock coming in will be from a long time established tank that a family member is breaking down. So I'm hoping the rock is usually the culprit lol

Just doin the old tank swap. Got a lot of soft corals going in too. It's just going to be a soft coral/ zoanthid tank.
 
Wow. You are definitely being diligent. You should be just fine. Just to be sure, it never hurts to give the new rock a lights out period in a plastic tub with new water and phosblocker for about 4 days. I did that with my rock, then there in a little peroxide for about an hour at the end. After a scrub with a new toilet scrubber and an RO rinse, I threw it in my tank. Beneficial bacteria still in tact.

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I would if it wasn't for the fact that the corals are on the rocks. I won't be able to fit all of the 60+ lbs of rock in the 29, and we are getting a tub to do the swap so I think the lights off is a great idea for te rest of the rock, which I will be using to seed the 50+ lbs of dry rock I have accumulated. I'm going tO have side by side tanks one with 25o wMH/ 4x24w t5ho and with 120w LEDS so it will be interesting to see how they compete. Might even share a sump. Basically just to sit in my chill room and grow out while for my future large tank. The 29 bc is just for the bedroom and I know the donor tank well enough to make an I formed decision that I don't mind inheriting it's problems. just a few aiptasia no HA for 6 months.

I think I will use some of the donor tank water as well, maybe 50% of the new tanks water volume. Good idea? Or not?
 
Good point about the coral. They probably won't appreciate the dark, too much peroxide, or a toilet brush scrubbing. Lol.

As for the tank water: There's not much benefit in using the originating tank water. The beneficial bacteria exists on the LR. If it were me, I'd use new water. I'm sure the donor tank is fine, but its probably more trouble than its worth.

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Okay I just thought that too large of a water change was bad because you go from dirty water to clean too fast or different calcium magnesium or PH or something too fast.
 
It is a shock, but if acclimated correctly, they will adjust. Pretty much the same principal when we buy frags from the store and bring them home to our tanks with different water.

Don't get me wrong. Unless the donor tank is laden with disease, it shouldn't hurt. Just saying its not that big of an advantage. I'd be more worried about them adjusting to the new lights than the new water.

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OK. I see what you are saying I will basically just be acclimating a bunch of corals at once. The lights will be from 250w MH/PC combo to just PC(biocube). However, I think he has needed to replace his bulb/clean his salt creep off the MH for some time now. lol. Also, He hasn't been keeping up with his water changes... I'll test his water and post back in about a week when we are ready to do the swap. Thanks for responding
 
Sorry im late but Holy Cow! 3 gallons? I think I used a Solo Cup full for my 120g and Sump! I think everything should be fine though. I would not reuse the sand though. Even if you boiled it.
 
Almost three gallons. you can see there is a little left in one of the three. I was going for 1 part vinegar to 10 parts water, thats how I've always mixed vinegar or bleach or anything to clean with

Its so easy to snap a picture and upload it with photobucket app. Takes me under a minute to get a pic posted with ease, so here is a picture

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Edit: I should probably get a stand before I set the tank up this time lol. That table has been with me a long time I should throw it away but I'm attatched
 
Yea you should disinfect that stand first! Well you can be sure that your tank is good and sterile! I think I did a second was with two cap fulls of bleach. My tank was originally a fresh water tank so I wanted to make sure there were no little critters in there!
 
It's a sturdy table! when I moved back in with my parents I tried to leave it but I couldn't help it

Emma hates it
 
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