What is the best way to clean an empty fish tank (before cycling)

Scrub it with salt. It’s abrasive enough to clean without scratching the glass, plus it will kill stuff in there. Just rinse really well.

Don’t use bleach or soap ! !

I heard that vinegar works well. With proper rinsing. Is that true?

Vinegar IMO is the best way to clean a tank. I usually just put vinegar on a paper towel and use that to clean and then rinse the tank out real well. (I’ve gotten vinegar in my tanks many times though and have never seen any ill effects as long as its not a lot)

I have to know: what does “before cycling” mean? I thought it meant “before going out for a bike ride,” but that doesn’t seem to be right.

@Jeruba Cycling refers to the nitrogen cycle. When someone says they’re going to cycle their tank it means that initial nitrogen cycle the tank undergoes(there is a huge ammonia spike the first time) after this it is safe to introduce fish.

Thank you.

I agree with @Adirondackwannabe, scrub it with salt then rinse well.
I’ve had several tanks over the years and that was the best/least-toxic way to clean or prep a tank.

Also…after is cleaned set it out in the sun to dry for a few hours. Sunshine is a disinfectant, the best!

(and a great energizer for algae growth :P)

@uberbatman Sunlight/algae, true, if you haven’t cleaned it thoroughly.
... so do a good job scrubbing, park it in the sun until it’s completely dry, and the tank should be good to go.

@uberbatman Haha..very true. But..if the tank is empty and drying in the sun it will be radiated cleaner. lol
Now..if you filled it with water and left it in the sun, algae would appear practically overnight.

Years of scrubbing goose pools here. lol