how do you clean a fish tank?? with....?

Question

I have a fish tank that was abbandoned at an earlier date and the water had slowley evaporated out of it. it now has this tannish white hardened crap of the inside glass. I don't want to throw it away sence it is almost a $1000 tank PLEASE HELP

Answer 1

Go to PetSmart or PetCo and get some tank cleaners, most of them are safe for fish, so you don't have to worry about some of the cleaner not comming off. You probably wont be able to get off all of the residue with these cleaners though.

If you're willing to take more time on it, you can try some CLR, because most of the buildup is going to be calcium. Once you use it you have to rinse the tank out a lot and your best bet is letting it sit out in the sun for a few days to kill of the chemicals....hope this helps...good luck

Answer 2

Easiest way to clean your tank, and I will warn you, although salt is non abrasive (suposed to be) salt sometimes will scratch your acrylic. Use a combo of salt dissolved in warm water and scrub scrub scrub. Another way is spray or pour on a solution of hydgeron peroxide (Won't harm fish) let it sit. use your dissolved salt water and a sponge and wipe out the tank. The lime itself will be difficult and a razor blade may be your best ally here. (Lime is tough) the peroxide (and again I stress won't hurt any future fish) will help bubble it off since it is a heat producer. It will take more on the line of elbow grease than it will anything else.

Spray or wipe down the tank with the Peroxide. Let it do the work for you. The salt dissolved water mix will help remove the rest. As I mentioned a Razor does WONDERS for the rest of the crap.

Also, lime and vinegar don't get along. This is another good option when removing the lime residue. Just remember to rinse well before reusing the tank.

Honestly what you are going to buy as a tank cleaner at pet co or petsmart is nothing more than vinegar and salt mix.

Answer 3

A mixture of chlorine bleach and water will work (about 1 part bleach to 20 parts water) but you will need to make sure you get it rinsed very well. Vinegar and water will also do a good job. It probably won't be as hard to clean as you think. Put some water in it so that is is filled above the problem areas and let it soak for a while. Most of it will probably wipe away at that point. What ever you don't, don't use any kind of soap on it. That will also help you see if it has developed any leaks from the silicone drying out and cracking. I suggest doing that in the bath tub if possible, in case there are leaks.

Answer 4

Before trying harsh cleaners just try some vinnegar and water, calcium residue (alkaline) is easily removed by vinegar (acid) If its a little stubborn try using a straight razor blade to scrape the glass. just make sure it is a new blade (not damaged or rusted as that will scratch, and do not use a razor on an acrylic tank).

Answer 5

I would suggest cleaning it with hot water and salt. Use the salt on a cloth like you would scouring powder. This will remove the vast majority of the build up. Some of what you are seeing is probably etching as well as build up on the glass. This etching will never scrub off but will be bearly noticable when the tank is filled.

MM

Answer 6

You can buy aquarium cleaners from most big pet suppliers(ie. petsmart, petco.) that will remove this film from the glass. you might try filling the tank with plain tap water, let it sit for a day or so, and take and aquarium scrubber and remove it once its had time to soak.

Answer 7

use the rough side of a sponge, just be careful not to scract the glass