Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi all just asking how other people clean there tanks? I strip down my tank every week and clean everything but been told to sterilize filter parts plants rock? What do i use i know people use bleach but i don't like the sound of that i know you can buy thing to sterilize things such as babies dummies and stuff would this be OK? How often should you sterilize? I also i have a big rock in my tank as a basking rock but algae love it everything else is fine its just my rock i scrub it every week but comes back after a few days. Anyone got a turtle dock and how good are they.? Gosh questions questions questions.
Hope someone can help?
Cheers
Andy

I use bleach, 9 parts water to 1 part bleach. After everything soaks in it for 20 minutes or so, I rinse it very well then let it all air dry. Chlorine is in the tap water anyway so by the time I've done all this there's no more chlorine from bleach than there would be from tap water. Bleach breaks up in the air so once I've thoroughly rinsed, then it's air dried, there's nothing left of the bleach.
If it still scares you, you can always add fish aquarium antichlor to the rinse water to further break up the chlorine.
Fun with bleach day.. lol I did learn a long time ago to wear old clothes when I do this so I don't ruin any good ones.
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PHRatz

chlorine is only in city water, not well water.
I dont think you need to sterilize all the stuff. Bleach is perfectly fine. I just use the same solution we use in the restaurant for final rinse for dishes, about 5% bleach solution. As long as you rinse well and let air dry you should have no problems.

Even the guy at the fish store cleans their tanks and turtle tanks the same way.
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Tammy, Doug, Skylar, Andrew, Aaron, Lessley
1 cat (azul)
2 parakeets
1 beta (my kitchen buddy)
1 hampster (oreo)
3 RES (Big mama, Quazimoto, no name)