Saltwater tank converting to Freshwater

[sillymikey]

Hello,
Sorry if I sound ignorant in asking this. Over the past year I had 35 gallon salt water tank with live rock and a few fish, and over that time, ALL of the fish died, and I decided to switch over to freshwater because Its a lot less hassle.
My question is, when I was cleaning my tank out yesterday, I noticed that I have like a salt build up around the top parts of the glass on the tank, and no matter how hard I scrubbed (using a new dishsponge) I couldnt get it out. I know that Im not supposed to use any chemicals or soap in cleaning a tank, but is there anything you can suggest to get rid of the filmy layer or salt?
Any help would be appreciated. THANKS!
:D

[Faramir]

It's quite possibly the rather less soluble calcium salts rather than the sodium chloride, which warm water would shift.

You could try vinegar.

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, you should use viniger also when getting setting up a new tank to just wipe off the insides. You can use viniger on the salt deposits or you could try Oxyclean which is great.(sinse it's oxygen, not other harmful chemicals)

[sillymikey]

oxyclean? Heh that stuff really DOES work on everything!
Thanks for the advice. Im buying a biowheel (55gal) for my 35gal on friday and start the fishless cycle,. Does that sound like a good idea? I have well water. So should I let the water aerate for a while? Or put it right in the tank?

[NJ Devils Fan]

Oh, almost forgot, Welcome to AC! :)

You can put the water right into the tank, but you need to add a declorinator to it. If you just add the water, the chlorine in it will kill the good bacteria that is trying to grow.

What kind of filter are you planning to get?

[OrionGirl]

The vinegar will do the trick as well. Oxyclean is good becuase it doesn't leave a soapy residue, but I don't know that it will completely remove the hard water stains. It's unlikely that the build up is salt--salt dissolves very easily.

You should be fine without aeration, especially since you're going fishless. For water changes and top offs, you may want to let it aerate to reduce the appearance of bubbles (from the gas off). Have you tested your water for phosphates, pH, ect? This will help determine what kind of fish will do best in your water.

[sillymikey]

Originally posted by NJ Devils Fan
Oh, almost forgot, Welcome to AC! :)

What kind of filter are you planning to get?
hehe thank you and I plan on getting the Penguin Bio-wheel 330
I heard its better to get one thats for more gallons than what you have. Am I right?
And maybe a tetratec airpump. The one I currently have now is really beat up

You should be fine without aeration, especially since you're going fishless. For water changes and top offs, you may want to let it aerate to reduce the appearance of bubbles (from the gas off). Have you tested your water for phosphates, pH, ect? This will help determine what kind of fish will do best in your water. I have tested the water and everything looks fine, just a little hardness, but thats because our water softner is not working right (but we're getting it replaced next week)

[NJ Devils Fan]

Yea, a Penguin 330 would be fine.

[pinballqueen]

Originally posted by sillymikey


I have tested the water and everything looks fine, just a little hardness, but thats because our water softner is not working right (but we're getting it replaced next week)

By "fine" what are your specifics?

Also, the hard water isn't as much of a problem as you would think. (However, that is almost certainly where the scaly residue on your tank comes from.) There are lots of fish that love hard water (and many that love soft water... there's lots of options, here...)