Film on Inside of Tank Glass...Need Advice & Help!

[dewalltheway]

Alright..I have had tanks for quite some time and I have never had this issue. Look at the pictures and please tell me what the heck this white film is on the inside of the tank and it is really hard to get off.

Just to let you know, it is not hard water deposits because I use RO/DI water.

Would dosing a little bit of Magnesium do this???

How do I get it off!!! Help and advice would greatly be appreciated!

[ngrubich]

try using a razor and see if it comes off (scrape the outside as well just to double check) and let us know if that works.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by ngrubich

try using a razor and see if it comes off (scrape the outside as well just to double check) and let us know if that works.

It is definitely on the inside as you can see in the second pic where I took my finger and tried rubbing it off. I have tried an algae scrapper with a metal blade and it won't take it off.

[kal_daka87]

Try soaking it with vinegar for a bit and see if that gets it off. Sometimes the glass just ends up "etched" and the only way to remove it is to polish it out.

Also even tho you're using RO/DI water there's other elements in the aquarium that will dissolve minerals into the water.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by kal_daka87

Try soaking it with vinegar for a bit and see if that gets it off. Sometimes the glass just ends up "etched" and the only way to remove it is to polish it out.

Also even tho you're using RO/DI water there's other elements in the aquarium that will dissolve minerals into the water.

I will try some vinegar on my next water change. This tank is only a year old so I hope it is not etched already!

I am going to stop dosing magnesium. I think that is what is causing this since I have never had this issue until I started to dose it.

[johndimo]

I've had film like that on one of my tanks before. Also you get similar film on coffee pots when the coffee stains the glass pot. I've always taken a dry piece of paper towel and scrubbed it and always work, for the aquarium and coffee pot. It's just abrasive enough to basically scrape it off without scratching the glass. The paper towel will act almost like sand paper. Razor blades have never worked for me for that type of hard film on glass, it's too rigid. I use no chemicals and have never had problems removing hard film from glass with this technique. Works best when the glass is still wet, for example scraping it withing a minute or two after draining the water.

It's amazing how much gunk you can scrub off.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by johndimo

I've had film like that on one of my tanks before. Also you get similar film on coffee pots when the coffee stains the glass pot. I've always taken a dry piece of paper towel and scrubbed it and always work, for the aquarium and coffee pot. It's just abrasive enough to basically scrape it off without scratching the glass. The paper towel will act almost like sand paper. Razor blades have never worked for me for that type of hard film on glass, it's too rigid. I use no chemicals and have never had problems removing hard film from glass with this technique. Works best when the glass is still wet, for example scraping it withing a minute or two after draining the water.

It's amazing how much gunk you can scrub off.

Thanks for the suggestion. I will try that.

[Hlh]

I've been getting something similar since starting dry ferts. I use a razor blade on it. But I wish it didn't happen at all. :-/

[TexasCichlid]

Mr Clean Magic Eraser - plain original version. Tankwater should be enough. If not, put a very small amount of vinegar on it and wipe. Won't take much effort at all.

[dewalltheway]

Originally Posted by TexasCichlid

Mr Clean Magic Eraser - plain original version. Tankwater should be enough. If not, put a very small amount of vinegar on it and wipe. Won't take much effort at all.

Great idea!

If I put vinegar on it, can I go down into the water or will it be to much for the fish?

[johndimo]

Originally Posted by dewalltheway

Great idea!

If I put vinegar on it, can I go down into the water or will it be to much for the fish?

Try without the vinegar first. You'll probably be able to clean it without the help of chemicals.

[dewalltheway]

Can this Magic Eraser be used under water or are there chemicals added to it?

[GeToChKn]

the standard magic erasers, not scented or bleaching or anything but just plain ones have no chemicals. they are just a super fine micro-pore sponge.

[dewalltheway]

Magic Eraser works! Now just to clean all the tank walls.

Thanks so much.

Still think it is from the Magnesium dosing so am going to not dose that anymore and see what happens.

[Jeff5614]

Originally Posted by dewalltheway

Magic Eraser works! Now just to clean all the tank walls.

Thanks so much.

Still think it is from the Magnesium dosing so am going to not dose that anymore and see what happens.

I get the same thing on the inside of mine which I've attributed to using Equilibrium and as mentioned above, a magic eraser cleans it up.