tank glass cleaning method

moogoomoogoo · 03/20/2007, 08:24 AM

I bought a $1.39 12" by 16" piece of a microfiber cloth at my local grocery store last weekend. It works phenomenally well to wipe off salt, water stains, and smudges from the front of my glass tanks. Works much better than any Windex- like cleaners and without chemicals.

TarheelFrag · 03/20/2007, 10:24 AM

Thanks for the info! Gonna pick me one up....

SeaView · 03/20/2007, 10:38 AM

I would never spray windex or any other chems near my tank. Thanks for the tip on the cloth.

brccoins · 03/20/2007, 10:52 AM

These aquarium wipes work very well:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113161

benray4fun · 03/20/2007, 11:10 AM

Moo,
a plain cotton wash cloth with plain water to clean off the glass and a dry one to buff and dry it off is all it takes. Never use chemicals like windex or anything else...it works great and it's simple and cheap and most everyone has these items at home...

moogoomoogoo · 03/20/2007, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by benray4fun
Moo,
a plain cotton wash cloth with plain water to clean off the glass and a dry one to buff and dry it off is all it takes. Never use chemicals like windex or anything else...it works great and it's simple and cheap and most everyone has these items at home...

I won't argue with that. This microfiber cloth doesn't need water. Just one step.

gixxer600 · 03/20/2007, 11:32 AM

What's wrong with spraying Windex on a paper towel and cleaning the glass with it. It's not like I am spraying Windex directly into my tank or sump. Unless you think the glass will absorbed the Windex and leached it into the tank. LOL.

drummereef · 03/20/2007, 11:50 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by gixxer600
What's wrong with spraying Windex on a paper towel and cleaning the glass with it. It's not like I am spraying Windex directly into my tank or sump. Unless you think the glass will absorbed the Windex and leached it into the tank. LOL.

If you do this, which I DO NOT endorse, make sure you spray your paper towel in the other room before you clean your tank's glass. Any overspray might make its way into the tank if you spray close to the tank.

moogoomoogoo · 03/21/2007, 07:31 AM

It has been my understanding that ammonia (as in many window cleaners) is so soluble in water it may in up in the tank, just from the vapors. The vinegar version of Windex in my experience only does a good job of smearing everything.

keinreis · 03/21/2007, 07:37 AM

I have been cleaning my glass with by spraying windexon the glass for years and have yet to have any ill effects, but agree some certain ones do nothing but make a bad smear mess on the tank.

melev · 03/21/2007, 08:09 AM

I've never used anything but water and paper towels. I have a small spray bottle to wet the tank and then wipe it down. If the glass really is dirty, vinegar and water is reef-safe.

Leosdad · 03/21/2007, 09:11 AM

My tank is acrylic so I have to be careful what I use to clean the outside face. I bought a pack of 20 micro-fibre cloths at Sam's Club for about $15, so I would always have a clean one. Washed them before I used them. They seemed to smear alot. I couldn't figure out what was doing the smearing..................finally figured out the GF had used fabric softener when she washed them.

So I rewashed them in hot water with two cold rinses. That did the trick. (now I hide them from her...LOL) I bought some spray on acrylic cleaner/polisher from Premium Aquatics and it does a good job, but takes a little elbow grease to finish polishing.

I just wish I could figure out a way to get the coraline off the inside, down along the sand bed......grrrrr........36" deep acrylic aquariums are not easy to clean down there.

TIMMYE · 03/21/2007, 09:52 AM

will have to try one, thanks

03/20/2007, 08:24 AM	#1
moogoomoogoo Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 581	tank glass cleaning method I bought a $1.39 12" by 16" piece of a microfiber cloth at my local grocery store last weekend. It works phenomenally well to wipe off salt, water stains, and smudges from the front of my glass tanks. Works much better than any Windex- like cleaners and without chemicals.

03/20/2007, 10:24 AM	#2
TarheelFrag Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: NC Posts: 215	Thanks for the info! Gonna pick me one up.... __________________ “Give me your tired, your poor, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me— Current Tank Info: 75g, 2x175w mh, 4x65w pc

03/20/2007, 10:52 AM	#4
brccoins Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Sacramento Posts: 97	These aquarium wipes work very well: http://www.drsfostersmith.com/Produc...&N=2004+113161 __________________ Brian Current Tank Info: 55 Gallon Reef

03/21/2007, 07:31 AM	#9
moogoomoogoo Premium Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Posts: 581	It has been my understanding that ammonia (as in many window cleaners) is so soluble in water it may in up in the tank, just from the vapors. The vinegar version of Windex in my experience only does a good job of smearing everything. __________________ If all you have is a hammer, then everything looks like a nail

03/21/2007, 07:37 AM	#10
keinreis Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Ft. Myers, Florida Posts: 697	I have been cleaning my glass with by spraying windexon the glass for years and have yet to have any ill effects, but agree some certain ones do nothing but make a bad smear mess on the tank. __________________ 90 gal sps and mixed other. 2x GHL Mitras LZ7, Bubble King dc130 skimmer, 3x 6055 & 1 6095, on an AquaSurf and original AC jr, Eheim 1262 return pump. Current Tank Info: 90 gal

03/20/2007, 10:38 AM	#3
SeaView Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: LI/NY Posts: 586	I would never spray windex or any other chems near my tank. Thanks for the tip on the cloth.

03/20/2007, 11:10 AM	#5
benray4fun Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hartford, CONNECTICUT Posts: 1,147	Moo, a plain cotton wash cloth with plain water to clean off the glass and a dry one to buff and dry it off is all it takes. Never use chemicals like windex or anything else...it works great and it's simple and cheap and most everyone has these items at home...

03/20/2007, 11:32 AM	#7
gixxer600 Premium Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Chula Vista, CA Posts: 163	What's wrong with spraying Windex on a paper towel and cleaning the glass with it. It's not like I am spraying Windex directly into my tank or sump. Unless you think the glass will absorbed the Windex and leached it into the tank. LOL.

03/21/2007, 08:09 AM	#11
melev Moved On Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Ft Worth, Tx Posts: 43,217	I've never used anything but water and paper towels. I have a small spray bottle to wet the tank and then wipe it down. If the glass really is dirty, vinegar and water is reef-safe.

03/21/2007, 09:11 AM	#12
Leosdad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 49	My tank is acrylic so I have to be careful what I use to clean the outside face. I bought a pack of 20 micro-fibre cloths at Sam's Club for about $15, so I would always have a clean one. Washed them before I used them. They seemed to smear alot. I couldn't figure out what was doing the smearing..................finally figured out the GF had used fabric softener when she washed them. So I rewashed them in hot water with two cold rinses. That did the trick. (now I hide them from her...LOL) I bought some spray on acrylic cleaner/polisher from Premium Aquatics and it does a good job, but takes a little elbow grease to finish polishing. I just wish I could figure out a way to get the coraline off the inside, down along the sand bed......grrrrr........36" deep acrylic aquariums are not easy to clean down there. __________________ "This hobby is just like owning a boat, you must enjoy throwing money into the water." Current Tank Info: 185 gallon reef tank, 40 gallon sump, 25 gal/day R/O filster. 65 pounds of live rock, 10 corals, 2 clams, twenty snails, mushroom sponges, 2 dottiebacks, one starfish. twp dottiebacks, 1 urchin, one male clown, mandarin goby, 6 line wrasse, red hawk

03/21/2007, 09:52 AM	#13
TIMMYE Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Central Wisconsin Posts: 857	will have to try one, thanks __________________ Honey, can I have a bigger one please? This is the last time I will upsize, I promise!