Bleach can be a safe cleaning agent for your aquarium if used correctly. This might surprise some, but it’s true. The CDC even approves bleach for cleaning drinking water after disasters.
Many people have drunk bleach-treated water without any health issues. This is because bleach contains a strong form of chlorine, the same chemical used to clean most city drinking water.
But be careful, bleach can be dangerous if you use too much of it or mix it with other chemicals.
So, is it safe to use bleach? Yes, if you follow the rules. You can use bleach to clean your aquarium, equipment, and even plants. It can effectively disinfect glass, equipment, and accessories in your fish tank.
3 Rules to Use Bleach in Aquariums
Here are the three simple rules for using bleach:
- Never mix bleach with other chemicals, including soap, aquarium substances, or other cleaning agents. Only mix bleach with water.
- Keep the bleach concentration at or below 10%. Using higher concentrations can be harmful.
- Don’t leave anything soaking in bleach for more than 15 minutes.
Follow these three rules to safely use bleach without causing harm to yourself or your fish.
Method to Use Bleach in Aquariums
To use bleach, you should start by creating a bleach solution. You can do this by combining nine parts water and one part bleach in a clean bucket or container.
For instance, if you have 9 cups of water, you should add 1 cup of bleach. This will create a 10% bleach solution.
Next, you should soak your aquarium items in the bleach solution for about 10 to 15 minutes. If you’re cleaning an aquarium, you can fill it with the bleach solution.
Once the items have soaked, drain the bleach solution out of the container. Fill the container with clean water and put the items back in.
Let them soak in the clean water for another 15 minutes. Then, rinse the items one more time with clean water. Make sure to let everything dry thoroughly in the air afterwards.
The most important part of this process is the rinsing. If done properly, rinsing will neutralize and remove any remaining bleach.
What Items Can Be Bleached?
Bleach can be used to clean many items in your fish tank. These include the tank itself, whether it’s made of glass or Plexiglas, non-porous parts like the filter hoses, plastic plants, and rocks.
Bleach is great for getting rid of algae on fake plants. However, avoid using it on silk plants and colorful gravel or decorations because it will make their colors fade.
Also, don’t use bleach on wood or anything that can absorb and hold onto the bleach.
What About Mineral Deposits? How To Clean Them?
When you see white crusty stuff, that’s mineral deposits. You don’t need bleach or fancy products to clean it.
Simple vinegar, which you probably have in your kitchen, will do the trick.
So, don’t worry about buying special aquarium cleaners. Use what you have at home. It’s easy, cost-effective, and works well.
