How do I get this crap off my tank

davham · 11/14/2007, 11:36 PM

Not sure where to post this but..........I bought a used 55g tank, it was dirty and needed cleaned. After removing the easy gunk there still remains this cloudy film like stuff on the glass. It's not completely covered but mainly around the top where someone would let the water level remain too low for a long period of time.

I know you should not used cleaners but nothing seems to make this stuff budge. I have even tried kitchen and bathroom chemicals with zero luck. A new razor blade doesn't help either. Any ideas or should I haul it off to the city dump and chalk it up as a lesson learned???????

Great site by the way, my LFS recomended this place as a great source of info. I have been coming here for some time and found everything i was needing answers to except this one.

Thanks for any help,

David

KMP · 11/14/2007, 11:40 PM

try vinegar

IPowderBlueTang · 11/14/2007, 11:47 PM

I have had success using scotch brite scrubbing pad for pots and dishes to get that hard to get off scum on the tank. Just keep the glass wet when scrubbing.
Hope this helps I always use it and works for me!

uscharalph · 11/15/2007, 12:08 AM

Vinegar and water. You could help it with a razor blade and the solution if its a glass tank.

demonsp · 11/15/2007, 12:11 AM

Sounds like hard water stains. If you fill and cant see then dont worry. If you cant remove with razor or scotch pad and vinager you may not be able to. GL

ahullsb · 11/15/2007, 12:12 AM

Yup razorblade

AZDesertRat · 11/15/2007, 08:02 AM

A gallon of distilled white vinegar is less than $2 and will work wonders. If the film is on the sides, lay the tank on its back, front or sides and pour it on full strength and let it soak for an hour or two before rotating to the next side. It should come right off with little effort after that.

JennyL · 11/15/2007, 08:18 AM

Hi David,
With glass tanks I have always had good results using full strength white vinegar and a new razor blade.

Allow time for the vinegar to soak into the stain and then use the blade.

Try this before you become too frustrated and decide to take a hammer to it.

omacphe · 11/15/2007, 09:52 AM

Sorry to say I fought this one and gave up. I tried everything above without success. When the glass was wet it looked OK but just couldn't live with the stain above the waterline when it dried.

Must have spent 20 hours dorking around with it before I checked on the price of a new tank ($60 in my case). Pretty easy decision after that.

Cheers,

Owen

griss · 11/15/2007, 09:56 AM

I agree with the white vinegar full strength.

Timinator · 11/15/2007, 02:03 PM

Fill the tank up since it sounds like its stained up top and use a cup of bleach to 1Gal (or stronger, just a rule of thumb)of water and let it sit for several hours. Scrubbing may help but it sounds as if it just needs some soaking. Drain it and let it sun dry. Even though the bleach will break down after about 24hrs after drained and air or toweled dried. Vinegar can usually clean stuff but in my opinion this should work for you.

reef1973 · 11/15/2007, 04:08 PM

Vinegar and razor blade. Becareful with the razor blade because it can scratch your tank.

steven_dean17 · 11/15/2007, 04:28 PM

id buy a new tank, you can always use the old one for QT.

ksouers · 11/15/2007, 05:25 PM

Sounds like it'll make a really nice sump.

11/14/2007, 11:36 PM	#1
davham Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 6	How do I get this crap off my tank Not sure where to post this but..........I bought a used 55g tank, it was dirty and needed cleaned. After removing the easy gunk there still remains this cloudy film like stuff on the glass. It's not completely covered but mainly around the top where someone would let the water level remain too low for a long period of time. I know you should not used cleaners but nothing seems to make this stuff budge. I have even tried kitchen and bathroom chemicals with zero luck. A new razor blade doesn't help either. Any ideas or should I haul it off to the city dump and chalk it up as a lesson learned??????? Great site by the way, my LFS recomended this place as a great source of info. I have been coming here for some time and found everything i was needing answers to except this one. Thanks for any help, David

11/14/2007, 11:40 PM	#2
KMP Wag More; Bark Less Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NorCal Posts: 3,602	try vinegar __________________ Kenny Current Tank Info: 70g Shallow Reef [Home]; 15g Starfire Cube [Office]

11/15/2007, 12:08 AM	#4
uscharalph Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 1,248	Vinegar and water. You could help it with a razor blade and the solution if its a glass tank. __________________ Ralph Mendoza Jr. Long Beach, CA Current Tank Info: 80 Gallon Reef Tank

11/15/2007, 12:12 AM	#6
ahullsb Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: sacramento, ca Posts: 2,729	Yup razorblade __________________ Andy Sacramento, CA Current Tank Info: 55 gallon reef w/20 gallon sump/ER135/ 75 pounds of live rock, 4 in sandbed, 2 b&w ocellaris clowns, yellow watchman/pistol, rosy scaled wrasse, Mystery wrasse, Copperbanded Butterfly, Lighting 48" outer orbit 2 150 mh/ 4 t5 actinics

11/15/2007, 08:18 AM	#8
JennyL Registered Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Texas Posts: 406	Hi David, With glass tanks I have always had good results using full strength white vinegar and a new razor blade. Allow time for the vinegar to soak into the stain and then use the blade. Try this before you become too frustrated and decide to take a hammer to it. __________________ Janet Current Tank Info: 125 & 70 g Reefs- 9 Seahorse tanks

11/14/2007, 11:47 PM	#3
IPowderBlueTang Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Canada Posts: 769	I have had success using scotch brite scrubbing pad for pots and dishes to get that hard to get off scum on the tank. Just keep the glass wet when scrubbing. Hope this helps I always use it and works for me!

11/15/2007, 12:11 AM	#5
demonsp Moved On Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: el paso tx Posts: 7,634	Sounds like hard water stains. If you fill and cant see then dont worry. If you cant remove with razor or scotch pad and vinager you may not be able to. GL

11/15/2007, 08:02 AM	#7
AZDesertRat Moved On Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: NW Phoenix Posts: 16,621	A gallon of distilled white vinegar is less than $2 and will work wonders. If the film is on the sides, lay the tank on its back, front or sides and pour it on full strength and let it soak for an hour or two before rotating to the next side. It should come right off with little effort after that.

11/15/2007, 09:52 AM	#9
omacphe Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mississauga, ON Posts: 32	Sorry to say I fought this one and gave up. I tried everything above without success. When the glass was wet it looked OK but just couldn't live with the stain above the waterline when it dried. Must have spent 20 hours dorking around with it before I checked on the price of a new tank ($60 in my case). Pretty easy decision after that. Cheers, Owen

11/15/2007, 09:56 AM	#10
griss RC Mod Join Date: Jan 2000 Location: In The Jungle (Wildwood, MO) Posts: 29,214	I agree with the white vinegar full strength. __________________ George Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder

11/15/2007, 02:03 PM	#11
Timinator Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: ALABAMA Posts: 149	Fill the tank up since it sounds like its stained up top and use a cup of bleach to 1Gal (or stronger, just a rule of thumb)of water and let it sit for several hours. Scrubbing may help but it sounds as if it just needs some soaking. Drain it and let it sun dry. Even though the bleach will break down after about 24hrs after drained and air or toweled dried. Vinegar can usually clean stuff but in my opinion this should work for you. __________________ -Tim- The more I read and think I know,and have figured out, the more confused I get ! And if I only had a Basement for more equipment! Current Tank Info: 125 Gallon, MRC Sump W/Refugium, MRC MR-2 Skimmer, MRC MR1 Calcium Reactor,Pinpoint PH Control, 2 250W Metal halide Retro's 14000K,PFO Retro Actinic,2 EcoTech Wave Controller,Phosban Reactor

11/15/2007, 04:08 PM	#12
reef1973 Moved On Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 53	Vinegar and razor blade. Becareful with the razor blade because it can scratch your tank.

11/15/2007, 04:28 PM	#13
steven_dean17 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: scott depot wv. Posts: 601	id buy a new tank, you can always use the old one for QT. __________________ The Dali Llama is my "Ommmmmboy" Current Tank Info: 75gal. reef

11/15/2007, 05:25 PM	#14
ksouers Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: St Louis, MO Posts: 153	Sounds like it'll make a really nice sump. __________________ Kevin Current Tank Info: 125 mixed reef, 20g sump, GEO 612 Ca reactor, AC Jr., 1x150w, 2x250w mh