Cleaning with Vinegar?

natblack · 06/07/2007, 09:50 PM

Hi!
Could have sworn I'd read somewhere about folks cleaning used aquariums and equipment with white vinegar... has anyone done this with success or is it a bad idea?
My set-up used to be my freshwater angelfish tank - I moved it from Cleveland to Tampa in the middle of January, so there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that I was dragging a 100 lb glass tank outside in January in Cleveland to clean it from head to toe. Needless to say it's got a bit of a scuz issue

that I need to get straight before I paint the back and get the salt setup running...
Thanks!
Natalie

AZDesertRat · 06/07/2007, 09:53 PM

Vinegar is a mild acid and will take the calcium deposits off the sides. I use it on all my pumps and equipment. Some people dilute it but I buy it by the gallon for about $1.50 to $2.00 so I use it straight, strain it through a paper towel or paint strainer when done and reuse it a couple of times before tossing it.

kevin2000 · 06/07/2007, 09:56 PM

Vinegar is popular when cleaning old SW tanks since the mild acid helps remove old coralline algae. I suspect you can clean up a FW tank with nothing other than water and maybe a tad of good old bleach (bleach is nothing other than chlorine and will go way with rinsing and evaporation)

AZDesertRat · 06/07/2007, 10:11 PM

Freshwater tanks have calcium deposits (hard water deposits)just like salt tanks do. So does your bathtub, toilet and sink if its not kept clean, vinegar works good on all of them.

drummereef · 06/07/2007, 11:52 PM

Yep, vinegar works great for cleaning aquarium equipment and it's a very good, safe cleaner for around the house. Use it all the time.

natblack · 06/08/2007, 08:48 AM

Thanks! I'm going to give it a try...
Natalie

an411 · 06/08/2007, 09:08 AM

This is good to know

luxo1 · 06/08/2007, 10:05 AM

Ditto....will try it!

06/07/2007, 09:50 PM	#1
natblack Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 36	Cleaning with Vinegar? Hi! Could have sworn I'd read somewhere about folks cleaning used aquariums and equipment with white vinegar... has anyone done this with success or is it a bad idea? My set-up used to be my freshwater angelfish tank - I moved it from Cleveland to Tampa in the middle of January, so there wasn't a snowball's chance in hell that I was dragging a 100 lb glass tank outside in January in Cleveland to clean it from head to toe. Needless to say it's got a bit of a scuz issue that I need to get straight before I paint the back and get the salt setup running... Thanks! Natalie

06/07/2007, 11:52 PM	#5
drummereef Team RC Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: STL Posts: 14,754	Yep, vinegar works great for cleaning aquarium equipment and it's a very good, safe cleaner for around the house. Use it all the time. __________________ -Brett 180g Marineland Starfire In-Wall 278 gallon system

06/07/2007, 09:53 PM	#2
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Vinegar is a mild acid and will take the calcium deposits off the sides. I use it on all my pumps and equipment. Some people dilute it but I buy it by the gallon for about $1.50 to $2.00 so I use it straight, strain it through a paper towel or paint strainer when done and reuse it a couple of times before tossing it.

06/07/2007, 09:56 PM	#3
kevin2000 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Portland, Oregon Posts: 3,805	Vinegar is popular when cleaning old SW tanks since the mild acid helps remove old coralline algae. I suspect you can clean up a FW tank with nothing other than water and maybe a tad of good old bleach (bleach is nothing other than chlorine and will go way with rinsing and evaporation)

06/07/2007, 10:11 PM	#4
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	Freshwater tanks have calcium deposits (hard water deposits)just like salt tanks do. So does your bathtub, toilet and sink if its not kept clean, vinegar works good on all of them.

06/08/2007, 08:48 AM	#6
natblack Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Tampa Bay, FL Posts: 36	Thanks! I'm going to give it a try... Natalie

06/08/2007, 09:08 AM	#7
an411 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Derby CT Posts: 2,861	This is good to know

06/08/2007, 10:05 AM	#8
luxo1 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Chicago, IL Posts: 418	Ditto....will try it!