Salt Creep

smittysmith2 · 02/08/2015, 10:17 PM

I'm looking for suggestions for cleaning salt creep off the exterior wall of my tank. I have tried a few things but it is very slow going. The best luck I had was using vinegar soaked paper towels. I applied them directly to the effected area and sealed everything up with Saran Wrap for about 5 hours. Then I tried to clean it. Still very slow going. I got the steamer and things were better. Any other suggestions? :hammer

mixedreef89 · 02/08/2015, 10:56 PM

All I can say is I have never had salt creep that bad. Nor do I let it get that far.

FraggledRock · 02/08/2015, 11:14 PM

Do u have a bubbler? Or anything splashing?

mixedreef89 · 02/08/2015, 11:30 PM

Nothing should be splashing and you don't want anything that bubbles(like a freshwater bubble wand). That acts like a skimmer sort of and just makes the crap collect on top of your water and tank. I get salt creep on one fitting that was not fully sealed but its built up enough right there that it no longer drips lol so I just leave that one alone.

reefchase · 02/08/2015, 11:39 PM

A new razor to scrape off does wonderfully

meidinad · 02/08/2015, 11:46 PM

Watch areas of flow. If you look right over the water line and you see little splashes (micro) into the air you may want to redirection the flow. That's where your salt creep is coming from. If it's something you can't avoid by best advice is keep up with it. Clean it more often. Spend an extra 5 minutes a week on it and you should keep it looking nice.

julie180 · 02/09/2015, 08:00 AM

Second the razor, if its a glass tank. Make sure to keep the area wet when using it though.

mixedreef89 · 02/09/2015, 10:17 AM

You guys are all describing some serious build up. Why do you let it go for that long?

pmaloy · 02/09/2015, 11:39 AM

I'd try the scrub daddy. Supposedly it's non abrasive, it's worked well in my bathroom, but I haven't tried it on my tank yet.

http://www.amazon.com/Scrub-Daddy-Sc...ds=scrub+daddy

you can get them at walmart too

ReefsandGeeks · 02/09/2015, 01:58 PM

I've used the rough side of a velcro strip to clean my tank before and it works well. gental, but with a little pressure can even remove coralline. Doesn't scratch glass (schouldn't scratch acrylic either). That's what's on the back of a magfloat.

02/08/2015, 10:17 PM	#1
smittysmith2 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Madison, MS Posts: 82	Salt Creep I'm looking for suggestions for cleaning salt creep off the exterior wall of my tank. I have tried a few things but it is very slow going. The best luck I had was using vinegar soaked paper towels. I applied them directly to the effected area and sealed everything up with Saran Wrap for about 5 hours. Then I tried to clean it. Still very slow going. I got the steamer and things were better. Any other suggestions? :hammer

02/08/2015, 11:14 PM	#3
FraggledRock Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: New York, New York Posts: 2,185	Do u have a bubbler? Or anything splashing? __________________ “For most of history, man has had to fight nature to survive; in this century he is beginning to realize that, in order to survive, he must protect it.”― Jacques-Yves Cousteau MarineBio.org Current Tank Info: 40 Gallon Breeder w/ Bean Animal Overflow 20G Sump, Mixed Reef.

02/08/2015, 11:39 PM	#5
reefchase Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: Seattle Posts: 38	A new razor to scrape off does wonderfully __________________ Please visit my youtube reef videos at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCpLi-JEGBxwtl2JIfsUmAtA Current Tank Info: I currently have a 75 gal mixed reef tank

02/08/2015, 10:56 PM	#2
mixedreef89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NC Posts: 356	All I can say is I have never had salt creep that bad. Nor do I let it get that far.

02/08/2015, 11:30 PM	#4
mixedreef89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NC Posts: 356	Nothing should be splashing and you don't want anything that bubbles(like a freshwater bubble wand). That acts like a skimmer sort of and just makes the crap collect on top of your water and tank. I get salt creep on one fitting that was not fully sealed but its built up enough right there that it no longer drips lol so I just leave that one alone.

02/08/2015, 11:46 PM	#6
meidinad Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Grand Forks, ND Posts: 61	Watch areas of flow. If you look right over the water line and you see little splashes (micro) into the air you may want to redirection the flow. That's where your salt creep is coming from. If it's something you can't avoid by best advice is keep up with it. Clean it more often. Spend an extra 5 minutes a week on it and you should keep it looking nice.

02/09/2015, 08:00 AM	#7
julie180 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Raymore, MO Posts: 2,556	Second the razor, if its a glass tank. Make sure to keep the area wet when using it though.

02/09/2015, 10:17 AM	#8
mixedreef89 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2014 Location: NC Posts: 356	You guys are all describing some serious build up. Why do you let it go for that long?

02/09/2015, 11:39 AM	#9
pmaloy Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Greensboro, NC Posts: 24	I'd try the scrub daddy. Supposedly it's non abrasive, it's worked well in my bathroom, but I haven't tried it on my tank yet. http://www.amazon.com/Scrub-Daddy-Sc...ds=scrub+daddy you can get them at walmart too

02/09/2015, 01:58 PM	#10
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	I've used the rough side of a velcro strip to clean my tank before and it works well. gental, but with a little pressure can even remove coralline. Doesn't scratch glass (schouldn't scratch acrylic either). That's what's on the back of a magfloat.