Purifying System (BLEACH)

[jslaney]

I completely agree that algae is a natural part of the system but there are definitely nuisance algae’s that I would like to avoid. I am pretty sure that Bleach is not a detergent but is actually just concentrated Chloramine (the same stuff they put in our drinking water) I figure it would be a good way to nuke the system of any life and then add the life I do want using LR and such. I am sure I will get some bad algae but hopefully I don’t get all of them. Are there any chemists out there that disagree with this statement? Also I am not worried about the stuff on the glass just the stuff that will grow over my corals once I start putting them in.

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Jon.

[Myka]

Ya, if anything use vinegar.

[Whatigot]

yeah, **** and vineagar.

[Pescador]

As per Moe's book 1 cup per 20 gals solution of pure unscented bleach is fine to use to kill algae on non porous surfaces. Let soak, rinse thoroughly, air dry and add a chlorine removing water conditioner to the tank and rinse again. If your still not sure you can check for residual chlorine with an OTO swimming pool test kit.

Vinegar is still a lot better at removing mineral deposits.

[Snaz]

Originally Posted by jslaney

Chloramine (the same stuff they put in our drinking water) I figure it would be a good way to nuke the system of any life and then add the life I do want using LR and such. I am sure I will get some bad algae but hopefully I don’t get all of them. Are there any chemists out there that disagree with this statement? Also I am not worried about the stuff on the glass just the stuff that will grow over my corals once I start putting them in.

Thanks for the replies thus far.

Jon.

Well if you are intent on nuking the tank I think Chlorine would be the way to go. Vinegar is just an acid and all you will really be doing is dropping the pH to a point that everything dies. Yes bleach is concentrated Chlorine and you would not need too much to nuke all life from the tank.

Once the tank is nuked I would NOT use the "Water Conditioners or Chlorine Removers" treatments to remove the chlorine because it does the exact opposite, it does not remove the chlorine but instead binds the chlorine with other molecules and renders it "harmless", It probably turns the chlorine into salts, I don't know.

Chlorine will dissipate from water naturally given time and exposure to air. Diirect sunlight will speed this up immensley, thats why we have to keep adding Chlorine to our swimming pools.

I can't see anything normally found in a reef tank surviving a bottle of bleach. Just remember to wait a long time before adding any life. Test for chlorine residue obviously. It should be undectable before you add any life.

Snaz.