Cleaning a filthy tank.

[wartooth]

Hello all.
I have been interested in getting into the hobby of keeping a saltwater tank for some time now. Yesterday, my brother in law's friend decided he wanted to get rid of his 90 gallon tank, so I was happy to take it off his hands. The tank was in so bad shape that he gave it to me for free.
The tank is 100% covered in green algae and other crusty/grimy materials so it needs serious heavy duty cleaning. It is currently empty of water and sitting in my back yard,
Seeing as this is all a first for me, what is the best way to go about cleaning this without damaging the glass?

 

[teresaq]

fill with water and white vineger. Let it soak good, and use a straight razor blade.

 

[xcali1985]

Go to local grocery store, and purchase 2-3 gallons of vinegar. Standarded white vinegar. fill the tank up with tap water and sump in the vinegar and let it run with a powerhead in it for 48-72 hours. Then drain the water and simply take a rag and wipe it down. Everything should simply wipe right off.
After everything comes off rinse the tank a few times, do it a few times until you don't smell vinegar. Then take some non-scented papertowels and wipe it all dry and there you have a like new clean tank with no scrubbing involved.
Heres a video of how easy it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pGhGAuVn9E

 

[wartooth]

Thank you both for the advice... now what about the outside? My appologies if the video covers this, I'm at work and cannot watch videos until my break. I would say that the outside glass is almost as filthy as the inside glass.

 

[al&burke]

You can also put your tank outside upside down and run a sprikler in it one of those ascallating one's work's great. Someone on this forum told me about that one.

 

[teresaq]

Just use the same on the outside. Wipe it down with a soft cloth and vinegar. Just be careful if you use a razor that you dont cut the silicone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wartooth http:///forum/thread/385606/cleaning-a-filthy-tank#post_3382393
Thank you both for the advice... now what about the outside? My appologies if the video covers this, I'm at work and cannot watch videos until my break. I would say that the outside glass is almost as filthy as the inside glass.

 

[1guydude]

+1
50/50 mix of vinegar and water! Let it soak and make sure to rinse very well!!!! Also dosent hurt to put a lil elbow work with a paper towel or something.....Good luck~devin

 

[wartooth]

Thanks everyone for all the help. While we're on the subject, I should also mention that, although the glass is ~an inch thick, I noticed atleast 1 bottom corner where there was some glass chipping (probably only few milimeters worth of chippage on the outside. Is this something that I should be worried about and if so can this be repaired. I'm kind of starting to wonder if this tank is worth saving before I put any effort and money into it.
Thanks

 

[teresaq]

Pictures would help

 

[wartooth]

I don't seem to have permission to post pics. Mod?