How to clean algae off stuff in aquarium?

[Chris&Nicole]

I am FINALLY dismantling my old tank and going to sell off all the bits (much to wifeys joy) and I wanted to know how to prep the various rocks, ornaments etc (i.e take off the algae) for sale. I have read somewhere you can use bleach? Is this correct? Wont it harm any fish when it gets used again?

Cheers for any help.

[farmchick]

You can always leave it in the sun for a day and then it should just brush off.

[whetu]

Personally I would use physical methods of removal before resorting to chemical methods. Try scrubbing the ornaments first (use an old toothbrush to get into tricky corners).

You can use bleach if necessary, but it is very important to use the right stuff! There are two kinds of bleach you can use:

Oxygen bleach - Hydrogen Peroxide. This is my preferred method as it is less harmful to the environment than chlorine bleach. Just rinse well afterwards to make sure any residue is washed off.

Chlorine bleach - Sodium Hypochlorite. Make sure you buy plain bleach with no added perfumes or other ingredients. Rinse well after use and leave in the sunshine to deactivate the chlorine.

[David R]

I poured boiling water over a piece of driftwood covered in hair algae and it made it a heap easier to scrub off.

[spoon]

boil rocks etc for 10mins then fish will eat even black hair algae

[yeh_buddy]

soaking in a bucket of boiling hot water with 1/4 cup of salt and then repeating half an hour later with cold water instead of hot. Then using elbow grease!!! Works a treat for me 8)