What is the best way to clean a used salt water aquarium?

Question

I have used CLR, Lime away, Havent tryed muratic acid yet , Ive even tryed scraping the calcium deposits or (white haze) from the glass and just keep breaking razorblades, any one had success with this problem

Answer 1

Well, here is an old rule that you have not only broken, you have shattered. Never use any kind of soap, detergent or chemicals on the inside of an aquarium. CLR, Lime Away and muriatic acid are so toxic that just the fumes from using them can contaminate an aquarium that is running in the same room.

Whoever said muriatic acid is used to etch glass is right on. It not only won't clean it, it will make it worse.

The white haze is probably lime that has been on the glass for so long it has already etched the glass (a common problem with tanks that are not kept full). I hope you didn't pay very much for this tank.

Vinegar, salt and bleach are the only things you should ever use to clean a tank on the inside, and the bleach is only used to sterilize a tank that has had a disease or parasitic infection that wiped out the inhabitants. Then you must rinse, add double dechlorinating drops, empty and repeat at least 2-3 more times to get the bleach totally out of the tank.

If you do try to use the tank after doing some serious rinsing (2-3 times) with vinegar and salt, I would only put some guppies or some other cheap fish in it for a month or so to see if the chemicals are completely out of it. If they survive, then maybe try some zebra danios, they are tough too.

Whoever told you to use those chemicals has absolutely no idea how to care for an aquarium. Don't listen to anything else they tell you about fish or aquariums.

Answer 2

I'm not sure you want to use muriatic acid. I had an art teacher that used that stuff to etch glass. I guess there might be more diluted varieties that would work, but I wouldn't put any of that on my aquarium.

I normally use a slightly blunted flat-bladed screwdriver to "chisel" through the crud. Don't actually use a hammer, what with it being glass, and only scrape at an angle. Sometimes a pocket knife will also work, but seeing as how you've broken razor blades that's probably not going to work.

With most of my aquariums, I make sure that the surface of the water is level with the top rim of the tank, so the lime and crud doesn't show.

Answer 3

Cleaning Saltwater Aquarium

Answer 4

Soak it in vinegar for three days or use muriatic acid. Be sure to be outside if possible or a really well vented area, protective gloves and goggles. The muriatic acid really is wicked but works well. Leave it on the surface for 6 minutes and scrub the gunk off. Rinse well so that it won't eat through the aquarium sealant. Good luck and be safe.

Answer 5

Pure white vinegar. I'll bet any fish you put in that tank now is going to die. If you rinse well enough it might be a good reptile tank or small mammal tank.

Answer 6

do it the old fashion way get you power washer and get it off in 5 seconds. just make sure you use the low power nosile so you dont break the glass. non cemical and fun.