Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?

Drowsy Dancer · Post by **Drowsy Dancer** » Thu Mar 24, 2011 6:46 pm

Bumping this for TalonNYC.

DD

MaxDarkside · Post by **MaxDarkside** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 11:49 am

After reading recently in the news about people rinsing their sinuses with tap water and getting brain eating amoebas (you can drink tap water, but don't put it up your nose !), I made note that I shall always use distilled water in my humidifier.. just. in. case.

lovemyapap · Post by **lovemyapap** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 12:14 pm

If I dont wash my cats and birds water dish regularly it gets a slime like feel on the surface. I figure if I dont wash my tank daily Id be at risk for that same slime, bacteria growth.

joelrk35 · Post by **joelrk35** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:10 pm

Well, I seldom cleaned my tank and only use distilled water until last night. I was topping off my tank as usual and noticed a white filmy residue floating in the tank which I hadn't cleaned in 3 months. I also noticed the residue on the side of the tank and could see where the filmy residue had come off the side. Tried to wash it out with Ivory liquid detergent but it wouldn't cut the residue. Tried a vinegar soak (3:1 ratio water to Vinegar) over night and still it did not come off. Tried Cascade dishwasher soak for a couple of hours and still can't get the tank clean. I switched to a new tank last night and will try cleaning it weekly with vinegar followed by an Ivory wash and rinse with distilled water. That is probably overkill but will see what happens as whatever is building up grosses me out.

ems · Post by **ems** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 4:37 pm

I only use distilled water and haven't washed the tank. After six months of use, it looks brand new.

ThirdOutOfFive · Post by **ThirdOutOfFive** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:23 pm

I use only distilled water and empty the tank each morning and let it air dry. Occasionally, I clean with a mild detergent and then soak in hot water & white vinegar. The vinegar will clean off any deposits and acts as a mild disinfectant. So far, so good.

idamtnboy · Post by **idamtnboy** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 5:25 pm

ems wrote:I only use distilled water and haven't washed the tank. After six months of use, it looks brand new.

Keep a close watch on it. I have a hard time believing your room air is so pristine that some sort of crud won't eventually get started growing your tank. Do you dump the left over water when you refill the tank? I don't, and also my finger touches the water when I check to see if there's enough water in there. Those two factors may be why about every 1 to 2 months I find I need to clean the tank.

ems · Post by **ems** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:29 pm

idamtnboy wrote:
ems wrote:I only use distilled water and haven't washed the tank. After six months of use, it looks brand new.
Keep a close watch on it. I have a hard time believing your room air is so pristine that some sort of crud won't eventually get started growing your tank. Do you dump the left over water when you refill the tank? I don't, and also my finger touches the water when I check to see if there's enough water in there. Those two factors may be why about every 1 to 2 months I find I need to clean the tank.

Recently had an eye exam and honestly, I don't "see" a thing. Now, what's growing that I can't see might be another story. I'll keep a closer eye on it.

Strange tho, how many people have NEVER washed their tank after years of use, and so far, I haven't heard of anyone who died.

cindjo717 · Post by **cindjo717** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 7:16 pm

I only use distilled water and run it through the dish washer on anti-bacterial cycle once or twice per week.. so far so good.

ozze_dollar · Post by **ozze_dollar** » Mon Dec 19, 2011 8:57 pm

Every Saturday for me.

chunkyfrog · Post by **chunkyfrog** » Tue Dec 20, 2011 12:38 pm

I wonder if the star-san stuff they sell in the beer-makers supply shop would work in my tank?
It's no-rinse, so it won't affect the beer; and kills all the nasties that spoil a good brew.

Goofproof · Post by **Goofproof** » Mon Dec 26, 2011 11:34 pm

I rinsed mine out about two years ago. I haven't used water in it since, just leave it inline to muffle sound. Maybe some day it will become a habit for spiders but so far it hasn't. I keep water at the bedside to sip if I wake up. I don't wash the hose either, just replace it every six months. Jim

Cindy Lou Who · Post by **Cindy Lou Who** » Sat Dec 31, 2011 9:48 pm

Every day the tank is emptied and left out of machine to dry. On Sat. or Sunday tank is washed with dish soap, rinsed very, very well, and put in a vinegar/water bath to soak for roughly 30 minutes to get rid of any mineral deposits. We both use Reverse Osmosis water in tanks.

When traveling and putting tank into machine damp, we still got a pink growth in the tanks. A hair dryer to dry the tanks keeps this from happening.
Cindy

gasp · Post by **gasp** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:35 pm

lovemyapap wrote:If I dont wash my cats and birds water dish regularly it gets a slime like feel on the surface. I figure if I dont wash my tank daily Id be at risk for that same slime, bacteria growth.

I'm wondering if the slime is from impurities in tap water versus using distilled water in the humidifier tanks is different and doesn't cause slime?

BoomersRock · Post by **BoomersRock** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 1:56 pm

Unless we are traveling, we always use distilled water (from Walmart, cheapest). I wash mine when my husband reminds me (probably monthly).

Poll: How Often Do You Clean Your Tank?

How often do you clean your water tank?

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