Fogged Glass

KookScape · 11-09-2011, 12:56 AM

The new tank i got has some major fogging on the front glass panel, and it makes it look like the water is not clear at all. I tried soaking it with vinegar/baking soda overnight, tried a razor, some highly acidic bathroom cleaner, and scrubbing REALLY hard but to no avail. The whole window isn't foggy either, there are some portions where it resembles if a pleco were clean about 1-2 inches of a algae infested window, and leave streaks of clean. I thought it would get better when it was filled up with water, which it did, but with the new lights its much more obvious. Is there anything.... ANYTHING i can do to fix this? Im almost considering seeing if i can get just the front panel replaced so its nice and clean.

stangmus · 11-09-2011, 02:40 AM

Can you turn it around so the front faces the back?

KookScape · 11-09-2011, 02:51 AM

I'm considering that, however the last owner used it as a SW reef tank and the backside is all scratched up.... what a shame.... :/

Geminiluna · 11-09-2011, 12:32 PM

:-/ You've already tried everything I could think of, and then some. Bummer. What size tank is it? Will a new glass front be cost prohibitive?

KookScape · 11-09-2011, 01:05 PM

140 Gallon. I got the tank for a Great deal so id be wiling to spend some cash fixing it.

RipariumGuy · 11-09-2011, 01:28 PM

First off, I love your tags...

You sure that the tank wasn't made with fogged glass? ADA sells tanks with the back panel all fogged up for aesthetic background purposes. I am not sure what you could do to the front panel to clear up the scratches... Maybe some professional sanding?

touch of sky · 11-09-2011, 02:04 PM

I bought a tank a few years back that was used as a saltwater tank, and it has the same fogging. I ended up buying a new tank, and use the fogged one for overwintering my pond fish. I never was able to remove the fogginess.

Maybe replacing the front glass would be the only true solution.

KookScape · 11-09-2011, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by touch of sky

I bought a tank a few years back that was used as a saltwater tank, and it has the same fogging. I ended up buying a new tank, and use the fogged one for overwintering my pond fish. I never was able to remove the fogginess.

Maybe replacing the front glass would be the only true solution.

I would be fine with replacing it, but where yould I go to get something like that done?

KookScape · 11-09-2011, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RipariumGuy

First off, I love your tags...

You sure that the tank wasn't made with fogged glass? ADA sells tanks with the back panel all fogged up for aesthetic background purposes. I am not sure what you could do to the front panel to clear up the scratches... Maybe some professional sanding?

I'm positive it wasn't made as fogged glass. You think gettoing it sanded would make it clear again? I'm willing to try anything at this point

touch of sky · 11-09-2011, 04:20 PM

I would call a large store specializing in reef tanks, and ask if they know of anyone that could either repair or replace the front glass. This might be a problem encountered with tanks used with saltwater.

Alyssa · 11-09-2011, 06:17 PM

Have you tried CLR? I mean you'd have to rinse the devil out of it many times to be sure it was all rinsed off (or at least I would lol) - but it might cut through it if it's an issue of salt mineralization or something like that. Might need to let it set a little bit or do multiple applications though. But I know thin layers of mineral deposits will create a fogginess that sometimes even soaking in vinegar and hot water for days and scrubbing can't always fix. I'd imagine the same would be true for the salts and minerals in a SW set up.

150EH · 11-09-2011, 06:43 PM

RainX makes a glass buffing compound for windshields and it works well with a lot of elbow grease, you can get it at any automotive store but remember if you use it to clean scrub and rinse any residue from this product.

Check their website to see if they still make it and make sure to get the one you use with glass not plastic.

KookScape · 11-10-2011, 04:23 AM

Alright thanks for the suggestions but with some sly lighting tactics, I fixed it. IT seemed to be that the fog was only noticeable when the lights were shining at a certain angle, so i changed the fixtures up a little bit and it looks great! ill be posting a TON of pics this weekend when all my plant orders come in!

Thanks guys!

touch of sky · 11-10-2011, 02:48 PM

I am glad that worked for you!

KookScape · 11-10-2011, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by touch of sky

I am glad that worked for you!

Its not perfect, but definitely a LOT better than it was!

11-09-2011, 12:56 AM	#1
KookScape Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 123	Fogged Glass The new tank i got has some major fogging on the front glass panel, and it makes it look like the water is not clear at all. I tried soaking it with vinegar/baking soda overnight, tried a razor, some highly acidic bathroom cleaner, and scrubbing REALLY hard but to no avail. The whole window isn't foggy either, there are some portions where it resembles if a pleco were clean about 1-2 inches of a algae infested window, and leave streaks of clean. I thought it would get better when it was filled up with water, which it did, but with the new lights its much more obvious. Is there anything.... ANYTHING i can do to fix this? Im almost considering seeing if i can get just the front panel replaced so its nice and clean. __________________ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~140 Gallon Planted Tank Journal~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others"

11-09-2011, 02:51 AM	#3
KookScape Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 123	I'm considering that, however the last owner used it as a SW reef tank and the backside is all scratched up.... what a shame.... :/ __________________ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~140 Gallon Planted Tank Journal~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others"

11-09-2011, 01:05 PM	#5
KookScape Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 123	140 Gallon. I got the tank for a Great deal so id be wiling to spend some cash fixing it. __________________ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~140 Gallon Planted Tank Journal~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others"

11-09-2011, 01:28 PM	#6
RipariumGuy Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin Posts: 3,614	First off, I love your tags... You sure that the tank wasn't made with fogged glass? ADA sells tanks with the back panel all fogged up for aesthetic background purposes. I am not sure what you could do to the front panel to clear up the scratches... Maybe some professional sanding? __________________ "My next hobby is going to be tearing up $100 bills while simultaneously banging my head against a wall and flooding my basement." "Ask not what the hobby can do for you, but what you can do the the hobby" - ScapeFu The Jake-arium Wabi-Kusa Pimp #3

11-09-2011, 06:17 PM	#11
Alyssa Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (16/100%) Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 791	Have you tried CLR? I mean you'd have to rinse the devil out of it many times to be sure it was all rinsed off (or at least I would lol) - but it might cut through it if it's an issue of salt mineralization or something like that. Might need to let it set a little bit or do multiple applications though. But I know thin layers of mineral deposits will create a fogginess that sometimes even soaking in vinegar and hot water for days and scrubbing can't always fix. I'd imagine the same would be true for the salts and minerals in a SW set up. __________________ ₒᴑ°ᴼοₒᴑ°ᴼοₒᴑ°ᴼοₒᴑ ٴٴٴ˚°ᴼ~Alyssa Sacramento Aquatic Plant Society \| San Francisco Area Aquatic Plant Society \| Sacramento Aquarium Society My Tank(s) Blog \| TPT Clubs: RAOK Club #7 \| Fraternity of Dirt #62 \|

11-09-2011, 02:40 AM	#2
stangmus Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (10/100%) Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Joliet, Il Posts: 140	Can you turn it around so the front faces the back?

11-09-2011, 12:32 PM	#4
Geminiluna Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (46/100%) Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Indiana Posts: 529	:-/ You've already tried everything I could think of, and then some. Bummer. What size tank is it? Will a new glass front be cost prohibitive?

11-09-2011, 02:04 PM	#7
touch of sky Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 567	I bought a tank a few years back that was used as a saltwater tank, and it has the same fogging. I ended up buying a new tank, and use the fogged one for overwintering my pond fish. I never was able to remove the fogginess. Maybe replacing the front glass would be the only true solution.

11-09-2011, 04:20 PM	#10
touch of sky Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 567	I would call a large store specializing in reef tanks, and ask if they know of anyone that could either repair or replace the front glass. This might be a problem encountered with tanks used with saltwater.

11-09-2011, 06:43 PM	#12
150EH Planted Tank Guru (View User Tanks) PTrader: (27/100%) Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Churchton, Maryland Posts: 5,369	RainX makes a glass buffing compound for windshields and it works well with a lot of elbow grease, you can get it at any automotive store but remember if you use it to clean scrub and rinse any residue from this product. Check their website to see if they still make it and make sure to get the one you use with glass not plastic. __________________ Eheim Pimp #92 2.5 Gallon Shrimp Nano 10 gallon Metaframe Planted 150 Gallon Tank Journal

11-10-2011, 04:23 AM	#13
KookScape Algae Grower (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Oceanside, CA Posts: 123	Alright thanks for the suggestions but with some sly lighting tactics, I fixed it. IT seemed to be that the fog was only noticeable when the lights were shining at a certain angle, so i changed the fixtures up a little bit and it looks great! ill be posting a TON of pics this weekend when all my plant orders come in! Thanks guys! __________________ ~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~140 Gallon Planted Tank Journal~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~ "A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others"

11-10-2011, 02:48 PM	#14
touch of sky Planted Tank Enthusiast (View User Tanks) PTrader: (3/100%) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Posts: 567	I am glad that worked for you!

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