getting the purple off

Dustin1231 · 10/01/2007, 11:04 AM

Whats the best way to get all the purple stuff off the back on a class tank. I bought it used, but would like to have the black paint showing. should i do it before i put water in, or after?

Thanks

der_wille_zur_macht · 10/01/2007, 11:35 AM

Is the tank running? By "purple stuff" do you mean the encrusting algae commonly called coralline?

If it is coralline, soften it with full strength vinegar, then scrape with a razor blade. Just be careful around the tank's silicone joints. If the tank is already running, just go after it with the razor and skip the vinegar.

papagimp · 10/01/2007, 11:36 AM

Corallie aglae? razor blade and some elbow grease always worked for me.

Dustin1231 · 10/01/2007, 12:32 PM

yeah its the corallie aglae..forgot the name.lol I bought the tank used, and would like to get it off. As it sits now there is no water in it. So i might try the vinegar

der_wille_zur_macht · 10/01/2007, 12:35 PM

Get some old dish towels and soak them in the vinegar, then hang them so they are laying against the coralline on the glass. IME this is one of the best ways to ensure it soaks in for a good amount of time - otherwise the vinegar will run off or evaporate.

papagimp · 10/01/2007, 01:06 PM

good idea DWZM, I've been staring at a 220g for many months now and was curiouis how i'd get it cleaned, I like that idea!

AZDesertRat · 10/01/2007, 01:50 PM

If its empty lay it on its back and let the vinegar soak in. Vinegar is less than $2 a gallon so just pour the whole gallon in full strength.

Dustin1231 · 10/01/2007, 06:20 PM

its on the stand, and its too much of a pain to take off. i will try the dish towel idea.

3mrhythm · 10/01/2007, 08:51 PM

vinegar and razor blade

Dustin1231 · 10/02/2007, 07:55 AM

yeah, i spend about 2 hours using that stuff... got most of it off. Tanks starting to look good.

10/01/2007, 11:04 AM	#1
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	getting the purple off Whats the best way to get all the purple stuff off the back on a class tank. I bought it used, but would like to have the black paint showing. should i do it before i put water in, or after? Thanks __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

10/01/2007, 11:35 AM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Is the tank running? By "purple stuff" do you mean the encrusting algae commonly called coralline? If it is coralline, soften it with full strength vinegar, then scrape with a razor blade. Just be careful around the tank's silicone joints. If the tank is already running, just go after it with the razor and skip the vinegar. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

10/01/2007, 11:36 AM	#3
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	Corallie aglae? razor blade and some elbow grease always worked for me. __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

10/01/2007, 12:32 PM	#4
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	yeah its the corallie aglae..forgot the name.lol I bought the tank used, and would like to get it off. As it sits now there is no water in it. So i might try the vinegar __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

10/01/2007, 12:35 PM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Get some old dish towels and soak them in the vinegar, then hang them so they are laying against the coralline on the glass. IME this is one of the best ways to ensure it soaks in for a good amount of time - otherwise the vinegar will run off or evaporate. __________________ Inconveniencing marine life since 1992 "It is my personal belief that reef aquaria should be thriving communities of biodiversity, representative of their wild counterparts, and not merely collections of pretty specimens growing on tidy clean rock shelves covered in purple coralline algae." (Eric Borneman)

10/01/2007, 01:06 PM	#6
papagimp COMAS Rocks! Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Oklahoma City, OK Posts: 8,185 Blog Entries: 2	good idea DWZM, I've been staring at a 220g for many months now and was curiouis how i'd get it cleaned, I like that idea! __________________ 58g Softie & 75g Stoney Member, Central Oklahoma Marine Aquarium Society Current Tank Info: 58g Mixed Reef Project - Started June 2011

10/01/2007, 01:50 PM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	If its empty lay it on its back and let the vinegar soak in. Vinegar is less than $2 a gallon so just pour the whole gallon in full strength.

10/01/2007, 06:20 PM	#8
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	its on the stand, and its too much of a pain to take off. i will try the dish towel idea. __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007

10/01/2007, 08:51 PM	#9
3mrhythm Moved On Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Farmington NH Posts: 88	vinegar and razor blade

10/02/2007, 07:55 AM	#10
Dustin1231 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Wichita Kansas Posts: 260	yeah, i spend about 2 hours using that stuff... got most of it off. Tanks starting to look good. __________________ WOW, never thought id spend more money on a fish tank then a motorcycle... Current Tank Info: a 12 nano and 120 mixed started on June 16 2007