Just got a used aquarium; How do I clean the gunk out?

Question

I just got a used aquarium that has been in storage for some time. There is a crusty white build up on the hood and the top inside half of the glass. How and what can I use to clean it? I tried just using hot water and vinegar (like websites have said) and it's not working... Please help!

Answer 1

NEVER EVER EVER use soap on an aquarium or anything used in the aquarium. Soap residue is very hard to completly remove and it is rediculousely toxic to fish. Windex is also a VERY BAD THING to use on a tank. Windex will weaken the silicone seals on a glass tank (making leaks more likely) and it will turn an acrylic tank yellow!!

Bleach is fine because it rinses clean and evaporates very fast. Viniger is good for calcium and lime scale. Salt is good to mix with water to form an abrasive to help with the scrubbing.

Good luck...

Answer 2

Use a bleach/water solution. Just make sure that ALL the bleach is gone before filling it for fish.

Another suggestion is to use pure ammonia and water. No other ingredients in the ammonia. You can tell if there are surfactants by shaking the bottle. If it foams, it's not the right kind. This can actually be used to do fishless cycling afterwards and get your tank cycled before ever adding a fish :)

Also..when cleaning, use an aquarium scrubber and not just a sponge or cloth. Don't use anything that is abrasive, though. In either glass or acrylic tanks, they can scratch them up.

Answer 3

If the tank was used for fish that require a high pH (saltwater, cichlids), there's a chance the glass was permanently etched. In high pH, the surface of silica (glass) will dissolve slightly leaving an uneven surface. A professional might be able to flame polish the glass (remelt it to fill in the pits), but this poses a risk of cracking the glass. When the tank is filled with water, the etching is less noticable, but not perfect.

If you couldn't remove what's on the glass parts of the tank with hot water or vinegar, you can try scrubbing with a bit of salt, but if it still doesn't come off, it's probably permanent.

Answer 4

How terrible. I trust chelsi you ought to slap the owner. As for cleansing positioned some tank water in a bucket and positioned your fish contained in the bucket. also positioned the heater in there too cuz it type of feels your gonna ought to do this for some couple hours, or so perchance even extra. initiate through cleansing out all the water out of there. and take all the rocks decorations and plants and scrub them until eventually eventually tey shine (not fairly yet you get what I recommend) merely so as that there is not any extra algae. As for the rocks you ought to replace them cuz they're going to be a soreness until eventually you want to positioned it the attempt. use an algae brush to scrape off all the from the walls of the glass. do not USE CLOROX OR the different kinfolk contributors CHEMICAL AS this may go away RESIDUE AND KILL YOUR FISH so please do not use it. All you want to do is get some new gravel, some water conditioner, and nutrition. and also you're set to bypass. solid success and that i wish you're a extra efficient proprietor than the previous ones. wish it enables.

Answer 5

It is a mineral deposit from the water. Depending on the type of mineral, you may not be able to remove it with chemicals.

Some things to try: bleach or acetone (nail polish remover), and scrub at it with a scratch pad.



******Make sure that you rinse the tank out several times afterwards with warm water and then let completely dry and sit for 2-3 days before trying to add any fish to it*****

Answer 6

Never use soap. Try Aquarium Pharmaceuticals Safe & Easy Aquarium Spray Cleaner. Or something similar they also have a wipe version and lots of elbow grease. Let me know how it goes I would like to use an old tank I have.

Answer 7

Good question, you may need to try hot water and some windex, but make sure you rinse out the tank several times after so there is no chemicals left behind.

Usually you have to replace the tank, as if the white stuff is bad it wont ever go away.

Answer 8

Put fish in seperate bowl w/ water and use oxy clean and a toilet scruber then after was it with soap and ater then soak it in water for an hour. Or dip it in to a pool or bucket that is big enough.

Answer 9

wash it with bleach. put water in it, then wait for a week. then dump the old water out then put new in. then you let it sit for 2 weeks then put fish in

Answer 10

Try scouring it with hot water, soap, and a new sponge. If that doesn't work, take it to your local pet store and ask them what to do.