Need cleaning ideas for my new used tank!

pinkertd

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May 29, 2007
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Debbi
Just picked up a used 60 gallon with solid oak stand, lights and glass top. The tank and glass lids need a scrubbing of a lifetime to get the hard water stains off. Anyone have any good cleaning/scrubbing ideas?? My bristlenose colony is movin' on up to bigger!!
 
I use vinegar and water as the solution, and toothbrush and sponge to scrub my used tanks.
 
what about a cleaner like CLR or something made for hard water deposits? Of course you would have to make sure its well rinsed before adding fish
 
I don't know about using CLR....if you could get the chemical residue off. The hard water crust is pretty thick in some spots on the back and thick on the top. The guy bought a beautiful used 105 with cherry cabinet and hood that he's going to start up with saltwater....hope he takes better care of them. He told me he hadn't changed any water in the 60G for 4 years! I asked him to please scoop the gravel out and keep it:eek3:
 
First off don't use CLR on a tank... you will never get all the chemical residue off.

Vinegar and water will be your best bet. There is also a cleaning solution put out by Python that I have had good results with.
 
Hot vinegar and then a razor.
 
The vinegar is a good option because it will act as the chemical to remove hard water deposits. Vinegar is a weak acid. For a scrubber, I have used a scotchbrite that is made for glass. It is the blue colored one at the grocery store. The green clolored one is more abrasive and can damage the glass in your tank. It looks to me like we are all guessing its a glass tank. If not, avoid any abrasive anything and stick to things like sponges and the vinegar.
 
Thanks for the help everyone! I've used vinegar solution before to remove slight mineral deposits, so that is what I will use again. It is a glass tank so I can get a little scrubby with it.
 
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