I got a used one from a friend that had terrible mineral deposits. (while empty...of course) I sprayed on CLR and used a razor blade. It got a lot of it off but some of it is etched onto the glass so no getting it off. Then I rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and rinsed and then set it in the sun for a day. I had no problems with fish dying. The etching is barely noticeable with water in it.