Sharing maintenance equipment?

[fishfever]

Like many here I now have more than 1 tank (this was never intended but you know how it goes!) and I share nets, cleaning equipment, etc. among the tanks. Especially when going from a hospital or isolation tank to a mature tank I'd like to make sure I don't accidentally contaminate the mature tank but I'm thinking it would be a good idea to disinfect/sterilize nets, etc. after each use. I'm guess dipping in boiling water (troublesome) or bleach solution (then rinsing thoroughly in clean water) would work but what about something like a solution of Potassium Permanganate? Then I could carry around a large jar of it and simply dip things into it over and over again, periodically changing the solution. I don't know how well this would work or what solution strength would make sense. Does anyone else even bother to disinfect/sterilize common tools/equipment?

[bikeguy33]

it would be safer, easier and probably cheaper to purchase nets etc for each tank. no chance of cross contamination

[Carl]

Sept 24, 2009 1:03:18 GMT -5 bikeguy33 said:

it would be safer, easier and probably cheaper to purchase nets etc for each tank. no chance of cross contamination

Bikeguys suggestion is the most sure and is probably the best answer for a small number of tanks.

With my previous pet store and with my service, we used potassium permanganate as you suggested, as it was not practical to have separate nets.
We also bleached or used potassium permanganate vacuums and cleaning pads everyday.

Carl

[goldenpuon]

I try to keep one net to one tank and always sterilize them with very hot to boiling water after each use.

If I do have to use a net for a second tank, I am extra careful to make sure that everything is properly sterilized.

Though I'd say that hot water probably doesn't kill all pathogens.

Hope that helps.

[fishfever]

Thanks for the input guys, I'll probably end up doing a combo of having some separate items for the tanks (frequently used stuff) and will probably try to sterilize stuff that aren't used as often after each use. This will be alot better than wondering whether or not I'm contaminating something. I made a list of things (the ones I can recall) I currently share between tanks:

(1) large long handled net for reaching deep areas
(1) extra large net for easier catching
(1) small net for moving fish from baths to tanks, straining
(1) bath container
(1) breeder net box
(1) gravel vacuum
(1) long handled scraper/scrubber
(1) hand-held scrubber
(1) double-ended pipe cleaner
(4) test kit vials (pH, ammonia, nitrite, nitrate)

I'll probably end up duplicating the nets and cleaning stuff and continue to share the other items which I can dip into PP solution. goldenpuon, that is very commendable to use boiling water after each use (was my first thought) but I don't think I would have the patience to do that each time. As for using bleach solution I'm a bit concerned that some of the bleach would get into a tank if I didn't rinse it thoroughly enough so I like the idea of using PP to sterilize the common items since a little PP could actually be helpful (it breaks down dissolved organic compounds). I'm thinking a large wide-mouth pickle jar will be good for this so I can secure the top when not in use to prevent spills.

[babygeige]

I have separate nets for each tank, but I do use the same gravel vac, bucket, and algae scrubber. I just rinse them off in super hot water after each use. Our water heater is set at a very high temp.

[goldenpuon]

Thanks Fishfever although I am not absolutely sure that the water I use sterilize my aquarium equipment is boiling. The water that comes out of my bathtub faucet is extremely hot, makes a great deal of steam, and burns me if I put my hand under it so I assume that it is pretty close to boiling. That's why I said I use very hot to boiling water to sterilize my equipment.

Perhaps I just should have said it was just hot water. Sorry about that.

[fishfever]

The super hot water you two are using probably kills most of any bad stuff I would think. I tend to run my water heater fairly hot but not super hot as my wife will complain if it's too hot (and also complain if it's too cold) so it took me a while to find the "sweet spot" where I don't hear anything about the hot water temperature.

I'm getting some nets on order (as well as duplicate scrubbers from Carl's store) so that should take care of the most common items used. I just realized I use 6 vials including GH and KH (although don't test those parameters too often since they always read the same). Dipping those in the PP after rinsing/testing then re-rinsing should work good. I probably will order an extra gravel vac or 2 also but I have been thinking about upgrading this item also so will have to research it a bit.