Topic: Best way to clean a sick betta's tank?

[megpegmeg]

Okay, what is the best way to clean a sick betta's tank?  I read somewhere about mixing  1 part bleach to 20 parts water and letting it sit for an hour.  Rinse completely. Then put the container in the sun since sun deactives chlorine.  After it sits in the sun for awhile, you were suppose to put your betta with fresh water back in the tank.  However, how should I clean the fake plants and "ornaments"  I know the glass tank shouldn't hold any of the bleach, but I was afraid the plants and ornaments might soak up the bleach and kill my betta.

Also, what is the best way to clean a tank (non cycled, just 100% water change each time) of a non-sick betta?  Just take the betta out, rinse the tank, plants, and ornaments in hot water then put the betta with fresh water back in?

This is a wonderful forum.  Thanks for all the help!

[frogsnbettas]

I would NOT use bleach.  Just use lots of hot water, and you can also soak the plants and stuff in saltwater.  Hot water and some paper towel should get off anything that needs to be cleaned.

[CobraR]

I use bleach all the time, as long as it is extremeley low strength mix of bleach water.  Just make dang sure you rinse it out good with hot water, leave it in the sun as you say, and then be sure to give it plenty of dechlorinator.  I haven't tried it, but you might be able to put the plants in boiling water to disinfect them.  Plastics take anywhere from 400 to over 1000 degrees to melt, so it might be okay.  I've always done the same thing with gravel, but it smells like you're making betta soup.  Also, it washes out some of the color, so don't use it in a pot you want to keep.

Also, when you get your tank set up, smell the water for bleach.  If it smells even a little bit like it, then it's no good.  If you're still absolutely not sure, then put a few feeder goldfish or something in there, just make sure your water's pH and everything is the same.  Myself, I've always used feeder guppies, if they die, then I know the water is no good.  If they live, they get fed to my parrot cichlids.