Cleaning HARD water stains and build up on tank???

[jeff10]

Any good ideas or recommendations on what to use for that hard water stains/build up on tank Glass?
What about heavy build up recommendation for cleaning?

 

[shrimpy brains]

Is this tank in use? Or are you getting it ready?

 

[bang guy]

Straight vinegar work well in most cases. It's not toxic and it dissolves Calcium carbonate.

 

[jeff10]

Originally Posted by Shrimpy Brains
http:///forum/post/3259932
Is this tank in use? Or are you getting it ready?
Getting ready, but out of curiousity, I want to know for both? This is for gettting ready though

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Jeff10
http:///forum/post/3259995
Getting ready, but out of curiousity, I want to know for both? This is for gettting ready though

A product called CLR works fantastic…rinse and rinse and rinse…I would even let it sit in clear water 24 hours and then rinse some more just to be sure. It is environmentally safe so it is not like other hard chemicals. It is the easiest way …JMO.
Lots of folks don’t want to use any chemical and in that case use vinegar, but it won’t clean as good, and you really have to scrub.

 

[meowzer]

I use white vinegar on everything that involves my tanks.....works great!!! and it's cheap too

 

[bang guy]

If you choose CLR keep in mind that the surfactants will prevent a skimmer for operating properly for an extended period of time.

 

[flower]

Originally Posted by Bang Guy
http:///forum/post/3260039
If you choose CLR keep in mind that the surfactants will prevent a skimmer for operating properly for an extended period of time.

Even if you rinse it like a hundred times (Exaggeration but you get my meaning)? Just would like to know, I never used it on a saltwater tank. It didn't my hurt freshwater fish tank..

 

[bang guy]

Originally Posted by Flower
http:///forum/post/3260052

Even if you rinse it like a hundred times (Exaggeration but you get my meaning)? Just would like to know, I never used it on a saltwater tank. It didn't my hurt freshwater fish tank..

A hundred time would work

Hydrochloric Acid will also remove surfactants.

 

[jeff10]

It looks like the Vinegar/Lime away worked ok, its still there (hard water stain(, just harder to see. Where I have my 40 gallon tank set, it will be hard to see the water stain when it has water inside it...hopefully

 

[raseri]

If it's not in use and your just cleaning it, like nothing in it what so ever, Just clean it by hand with water and a razor blade, Gets everything off the sides. Only if its a glass tank though.

 

[immortal4419]

I just did this in my new tank project. Vinegar + Razor Blae works great.

 

[cprdnick]

super fine steel wool is what we used to use in the detail shop on car windows. usually 00 and 000 worked and there will be no scratches to your glass, unless you apply un-needed pressure. You might mix that with vinegar too, double power, and it may act as a slight lubricant.