Salt residue on painted wall behind tank.

zsqure · 12/16/2009, 11:57 AM

Hello all, I am not a newbie, been making the same mistakes for a while now. I have noticed salt spray or an ugly something or other behind my tank on the wall. What can I use to clean this off? Will vinegar/water solution work without damaging the painted surface? Mr clean? Spic n span? Lysol? I will certainly tarp my tank to keep the "stuff " out of my water while I clean.

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/16/2009, 12:03 PM

I just use a wet paper towel. Wiping often (before it gets nasty) really helps.

lostl13 · 12/16/2009, 12:12 PM

Just a heads up, this has more to do with the type of paint on your wall really, almost anything you use(even water only) could remove some of the paint finish unless an enamel finish. They are stain resistant, but heavy-duty cleaners or mild abrasives can scratch the surface. When cleaning latex flat paint, you cannot use heavy duty cleaner and do a lot of hard scrubbing or you will take off the finish. Make sure you don't get it wet for very long because water goes through it pretty quickly. I would start with just some soap and water!

Juruense · 12/16/2009, 12:14 PM

I would suggest plain water only or a mild vinegar solution of the plain water has no effect.

Also address the root cause of the problem, but no matter what you do the wall adjacent to a salt water aquarium usually gets messed up.

der_wille_zur_macht · 12/16/2009, 12:15 PM

Luckily, since I've got little kids running around at home, we chose to paint all interior surfaces with durable paints.

kingfisher62 · 12/16/2009, 12:18 PM

I am so glad I have mine kitty cornered and dont have to worry about.

As der_wille_zur_macht mentioned , a wet paper towel followed by a dry one!

DC_40gallon · 12/16/2009, 12:33 PM

warm tap water and a mop to reach behind it will take care of your problem.

MAMGM · 12/16/2009, 12:54 PM

I agree with addressing the root of the problem. Could be as simple as redirecting a single power head or different surface agitation

12/16/2009, 11:57 AM	#1
zsqure Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Massillon, Ohio Posts: 195	Salt residue on painted wall behind tank. Hello all, I am not a newbie, been making the same mistakes for a while now. I have noticed salt spray or an ugly something or other behind my tank on the wall. What can I use to clean this off? Will vinegar/water solution work without damaging the painted surface? Mr clean? Spic n span? Lysol? I will certainly tarp my tank to keep the "stuff " out of my water while I clean.

12/16/2009, 12:03 PM	#2
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	I just use a wet paper towel. Wiping often (before it gets nasty) really helps. __________________ 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)

12/16/2009, 12:12 PM	#3
lostl13 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Atlantic Beach, FL Posts: 22	Just a heads up, this has more to do with the type of paint on your wall really, almost anything you use(even water only) could remove some of the paint finish unless an enamel finish. They are stain resistant, but heavy-duty cleaners or mild abrasives can scratch the surface. When cleaning latex flat paint, you cannot use heavy duty cleaner and do a lot of hard scrubbing or you will take off the finish. Make sure you don't get it wet for very long because water goes through it pretty quickly. I would start with just some soap and water! __________________ Be careful what you fish for... you might get it Current Tank Info: 20 long

12/16/2009, 12:15 PM	#5
der_wille_zur_macht Team RC Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: NY Posts: 17,749	Luckily, since I've got little kids running around at home, we chose to paint all interior surfaces with durable paints. __________________ 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)

12/16/2009, 12:18 PM	#6
kingfisher62 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: massachusetts Posts: 4,972	I am so glad I have mine kitty cornered and dont have to worry about. As der_wille_zur_macht mentioned , a wet paper towel followed by a dry one! __________________ 55g Tank - 216W T5's Foxface, tomato clown, yellow tailed damsel, Starrie Blennie, LPS and softies 29G Biocube- 120W LED's 2 percular clown, Six line Wrasse , LPS and softies Current Tank Info: 55 gl. Reef tank ,29g biocube Reef

12/16/2009, 12:14 PM	#4
Juruense Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Fort Wayne, IN Posts: 1,138	I would suggest plain water only or a mild vinegar solution of the plain water has no effect. Also address the root cause of the problem, but no matter what you do the wall adjacent to a salt water aquarium usually gets messed up.

12/16/2009, 12:33 PM	#7
DC_40gallon Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Posts: 1,474	warm tap water and a mop to reach behind it will take care of your problem.

12/16/2009, 12:54 PM	#8
MAMGM Registered Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Shillington, Pa. Posts: 284	I agree with addressing the root of the problem. Could be as simple as redirecting a single power head or different surface agitation