Cleaning old decorations?

[Blu3Shyft]

I just got a used 50 gallon setup that used to belong to a friend's mother. She passed away and the friend didn't have any use for the tank so he gave them to me cheap. Some of the stuff looks like it was left sitting for a while while the mom was sick. Lots of calcification on the tank and filter, and several of the decorations I want to use have old algae caked on them.

What's the best way to get calcium(?) off the tank and filter, and what should I use to clean the caked algae off the decorations, including a chunk of driftwood?

 

[FishBoy185]

What I have used thats worked best for me was Vinegar, it always gets the white calcium off. Just put some on a sponge and scrub away. You may also need to use a razor but I havent. I would rinse in cold water also not hot.

 

[FishBoy185]

Oh and Vinegar will eat the algae away too.

 

[molliwopp]

Make sure its white or wine vinegar and not the stuff youd stick on your chips or food.