My 110 tank has a glass brace in the center, was used when I got it. The brace is pretty cloudy with what looks like mineral buildup, and when I first got the tank I soaked and scrubbed with a razor it for a few days with no visible progress in clearing it up.
I've sort of lived with it to date but I notice the plants directly below the brace don't grow quite as much as the rest. Is there anything else I can try? I have some glass stovetop cleaner I might give a shot... Just need to figure out some way of preventing any from landing in my tank.
Mr Clean scrubbers work really well to get some of that off. Add a little damp baking soda & it rocks! Gotta be careful not to scratch, but it'll polish it up nice
Hm thanks. I think I'm going to lower the water level by about 40%, then use blue painters tape to tape up plastic painter's sheeting inside the tank (above water surface, hanging over edges of tank, taped to the outside) and double-tape all the seams around the brace...
after that precaution, I'll try using one of those magic erasers & some baking soda.
I have a similar problem in a tank with some kind of etched blemishes all over the inside glass surfaces. One of the suggestions that I got for polishing them out was cerium oxide powder.
Without any pix and assuming it's actually calcium buildup and not organic, I would tape off the water as you described and then wet a paper towel with muriatic acid (Lowes - $9 a gallon) and it should clean up lickity-split. I dunno about Kaboom or erasers on that stuff. I do know that muriatic acid will eat it right up!
WOAH, muriatic acid. I have a 4oz left in a 128oz container. Always afraid to use it, but never thought of using it for this purpose. I need to educate myself on the proper use of this stuff so I don't end up on the news.
Good to know it's only $9/gallon. I need more to clean the brick wall once spring arrives.
You're going to hear all kinds of "YOU CRAY YO" baloney about using it. A modicum of common sense (don't sniff it - don't get it in your eyes - if you spill it wipe it up etc) you'll be fine. The stuff is used to lower the pH in swimming pools and "pH Down" aquarium treatments it's so "deadly".... I don't bother using gloves. If you have sensitive skin then do so. Otherwise use at your discretion.
Just go buy a box of the original Mr. Clean magic erasers. There aren't any cleaners or solvents of any kind in them, so they can even be used in the tank with the fish and all.
I'll try to take some before/after pictures once I try with the eraser and/or acid. Have some other tank stuff to do today unfortunately, so it'll have to wait.
I remember the leftover muratic acid I had used when I bred discus also ate into concrete in my driveway. It's a good safety procedure to use gloves and eye protection when using strong acids and bases.
I have been having a difficult time getting this build up off. I soaked paper towels in vinegar and left them on the glass over night.... No change.
So today I went out and got some muriatic acid (HCl), and even with that (diluted of course) I am not seeing much of a difference.... Suggestions? Tips on what I am doing wrong?
I diluted the muriatic 1:10 (give or take 1-3%), have been using a razor blade, and a glass aquarium scrubbing pad.....
I attached before and after pictures. The non-rotated pic is the "before". While Yes there is some difference, I think it is mostly due to different camera angles.
If you're going for Magic Erasers just do a search for melamine foam. You can get 100 on Amazon for as cheap as $10. A Magic eraser is a sponge with a piece of melamine foam on each side. The plain foam blocks aren't quite as sturdy but they clean the same for a fraction of the price. I bought a bale that I keep under the kitchen sink and use for all kinds of stuff.
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