tank sterilization help plz

[wiggie]

I see what point you guys are making but after everything I have read I am of the opinion that ich CAN be removed (it is a living parasite) and I should not have to live with it. I have made enough mistakes and i'm not going to make anymore, I want to start as fresh as possible. Some studies show that some strains of ich can live as long as 72 days or possibly longer in a fallow tank so 3 months is a rather safe (but still not 100%) method for getting rid of it. I can dry the LR i'm using now and use it later too so its not like its a total loss of money that way anyway. So if i was to do that i would do at least 3 months and I think I can have a stable tank with dry live rock and new sand in less time than that, I might as well do what is going to make me happy in the long run and sleep better at night. Isn't that why most ppl get into this hobby for the reward and happiness it gives you? Thank you for your opinions but does anyone have any help with the sterilization of the tank with bleach or vinegar? Or help for my QT build?

[Dearth]

If your intent on tearing your tank apart a good vinegar bath and cleaning should suffice as to the QT tank I will let somebody else better suited to answer that

[George]

Originally Posted by wiggie

I see what point you guys are making but after everything I have read I am of the opinion that ich CAN be removed (it is a living parasite) and I should not have to live with it.

I like your attitude and determination.

Originally Posted by wiggie

Thank you for your opinions but does anyone have any help with the sterilization of the tank with bleach or vinegar? Or help for my QT build?

Not sure why you insist on using bleach and vinegar. If you wanted to get rid of ich, just leave all equipment and rocks dry for sometime and that will kill those damn parasites.
As to your QT tank, the tank itself is fine. The filter may be a little weak. You might want to pick up a bigger filter. Used one is fine. Looking at your local fresh water club/web site. I regularly see those hang on back filter for sale very cheap in local fresh water community. Use just the sponge and ditch anything else for the filter. A heater and a couple PVC pipes and you are good in terms of QT tank.
8 fish (even smallish) in a 30g tank will be tough. You will get a cycle initially. Have the following on hand: seachem ammonia badge, seachem prime, and a lot of mixed salt water ready. Put the badge in your QT tank. As soon as you see hint of ammonia on the badge, first do a large water change, and then dose some prime.
Another trick I use regularly is to maintain low salinity(anywhere from 1.015-1.020) in QT tank. Lower salinity increases oxygen level and has lower PH. lower PH makes ammonia less toxic. Lower salinity also slow down the metabolism in fish and that's a good thing short term. I wouldn't recommend anyone try that but just in case you want to give it a try.

[asylumdown]

Originally Posted by George

Not sure why you insist on using bleach and vinegar. If you wanted to get rid of ich, just leave all equipment and rocks dry for sometime and that will kill those damn parasites.

+1 no stage of the ich parasite life cycle can survive drying for more than 24 hours. I'm not sure that vinegar has ever been tested against tomonts, so I don't even know if that would kill them. Bleach certainly would though.