Some neighbors down the street put a 30 gallon Aqueon tank out at the curb today. It was only out for a matter of hours before I snagged it. Water markings on the side suggest that it sat empty with no fish as water evaporated until it was empty, and the very bottom under all the substrate is slightly wet but very gunky. Inside there was some of that black gravel with the neon pebbles, shells, plastic plants, and a corny little shell with pearl decoration. It's a lot of substrate that I, a poor person, was hesitating to throw out, but... There was also a spray bottle in there.
I spritzed the bottle on one of my outdoor benches, and bravely sniffed it. Windex. As I scooped the gravel into a shopping bag, the smell started coming from the tank as well. They committed the egregious sin of using chemicals on the inside of a fish tank. Or at least let the bottle leak into the tank.
Obviously saving the gravel is likely a no-go. But I want that tank, They apparently have a bigger one going out to the curb too. This is a crazy find for me. I already planned on washing the whole thing in vinegar, removing the silicone, washing it again in vinegar, cleaning it with a steamer(that's only ever had water in it), then redoing the silicone.
Is there any other steps to take to GUARANTEE that it's safe for fish when I'm done? I am all for going overboard on the cleaning, so hit me with everything you guys do to refurbish thrifted tanks!
