what can i use to get rid of lime in a fish tank?

Question

my fish tank i full of lime buildup!! i need something to clean it. my mom wants to try limeaway but will that kill the fish?? i need ur help!!thanks

Answer 1

There really isn't anything to put inthe tank that is safe to get rid of hard water stains that work real well. You can scrub it off with salt and vinegar when the tank is empty and that will get rid of most of it, but as others have said things like lime-a-way will kill the fish. The best way to avoid these stains is always keep the tank nice and full and use a hood to keep water from the filter or air pump from splashing the outside of the tank.

Hope this helps

MM

Answer 2

It sounds as if you have what is often referred to as lime buildup on the glass. This occurs when the water has lots of minerals in it. As water evaporates, it leaves behind the minerals, which adhere to the glass.

It looks so terrible that there is a huge temptation to use home cleaning products to remove it. However, resist that urge, as even the smallest residue can be lethal to fish. There are products, such as Safe Aquarium Cleaner, that are made to remove lime buildup on aquarium glass.

Usually with proper tank maintenance, this isn't a problem. Every time you do your water change, use a non abrasive scrubbing pad (no chemicals) to remove it. If you are doing a water change weekly or every two weeks, the build up shouldn't be that bad. You can also use a razor scrapper to remove the lime/mineral build up.

I do not advocate using vinegar however if the tank is not being used to house fish at this time and you are going to be using it, you need to soak the lime build up in vinegar. Using a papertown drenched in vinegar, lay in along the build up for 20 minutes. A little elbow grease and it will come off. DO NOT do this if you have fish in your aquarium. Scrape with a razor is actually the best solution. (Won't scratch the glass either.)

You may also want to purchase bottled water from the store (home depot sells 5 gallon jugs for aroun $6.00-7.00. This will eliminate the lime/mineral build up on your tank.

Answer 3

Any industrial cleaning solutions will kill your fish. I would use a scraping utensil like a razor.
My question to you is why do you have such a build up in the first place. Is your water too hard. Do you do monthly or bi-monthly cleanings (you can buy a sponge on a stick with a abrasive side at you LFS) you need to do these cleanings to keep debris off the inside of you tank.

Answer 4

obviously lime away will kill all your fish and mek it inhabitable for all future residents. Don't use anything buy water to clean the glass and salty buildup off the tank.

Answer 5

Tt isn't that big of a deal. Unless it's an acrylic tank, just scrape it with a razor blade. That's the safest method for the fish and it's really easy!

Answer 6

Empty the tank first. Then use pure white vinegar to clean the lime off. Or lower the water level and use vinegar carefully on a cloth to wipe the lime off. A tiny bit of vinegar getting in the water won't hurt.

Answer 7

you should call and ask a pet shop if they have any ideas and then ask them if a sucker fish would help with the problem. they usually help with keeping the tank clean.

Answer 8

some thing that seems to work for me is i don't use tap water any more i buy distilled water haven't lost any fish in a wile