How to clean a used tank?

[Silverfang]

I'm picking up a used aquarium tomorrow, and since it did house other fish, not to mention quite the bit of algae, I'm wondering how best to clean it.

Aside from using lots of hot water I'm not sure what else I should do. I've heard of using bleach, or vinegar, but am not sure if it's a good idea. There were other fish in the tank up to a few days ago.

It's a 33 gal, with two filters a heater, and other accessories.

Any help would be appreciated.

[Sakura8]

I personally would use a dilute mixture of hot water and vinegar to clean it and then let it dry in the sun for a day. You can use a really dilute mix of bleach but be sure to rinse super super well and when you fill it for the first time, use an extra dose of dechlorinator.

For the algae, an algae scraper or brush and lots of elbow grease. :p

Good luck and I'm glad you got this tank, it sure sounds like an awesome deal.

[Silverfang]

10:1 ratio for the vinegar? or too dilute?

[Sakura8]

10:2 for vinegar, 10:1 for bleach, I would say. Unless someone else out there has a solution that worked really well for them.

[Silverfang]

sounds good to me