Cleaning the glass on a "old" aquarium - Aquarium Advice

rossmort · 06-04-2004, 09:30 PM

Hi, I traded some fry for a 30 gallon breeder tank and I cannot get the glass clear. It has a "film" on each side of the glass an no matter how hard I scrub or use a razor it won't come off. Is there any special "Cure All" to get glass clear? Help would be appreciated, because without it, I will have to toss the tank and it was going to be my fun summer project

Thanks

trenac · 06-04-2004, 10:27 PM

Have you tried vinegar?

bunebop · 06-04-2004, 10:31 PM

You could try that goo-off stuff or whatever it's called. It works really well, but you'll haveta be sure you get it completely off the tank... it's most liekly very toxic for your fishies.

Bearfan · 06-04-2004, 11:17 PM

I used CLR on one tank once that had a calcium film and it works well. I rinsed it for about an hour afterward in a high volume stream (garden hose).

rossmort · 06-05-2004, 12:44 AM

I have tried viniger, lemon juice and a "CLR" type stuff to no avail. Also tried Ajax (Abrasive) cleaner and a scrub pad but it wont come off

youronlysin · 06-05-2004, 03:03 AM

With the Vinegar, you may have to let it "sit" on one area for 24 hours for it to perform. I've removed some "impossible" stains and dis-colorations with full-strength vinegar after a 24 hour period, sometimes scrubbing with a vinegar-salt solution before I rinse. If none of those methods work, then chances are the glass is etched, and I'm afraid there is nothing you can do to fix that. The next step may be mechanical buffing with a polishing media and electric buffer. Good luck.

shawmutt · 06-05-2004, 03:06 AM

Well, I know car detailers will go after a "filmy" windshield with a razorblade and steel wool, perhaps it will work for an aquarium.

I would be careful with the tank. With all the work you have done in it so far, the silicon seals may be compromised.

rossmort · 06-05-2004, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shawmutt

Well, I know car detailers will go after a "filmy" windshield with a razorblade and steel wool, perhaps it will work for an aquarium.

I would be careful with the tank. With all the work you have done in it so far, the silicon seals may be compromised.

Yup, already planning on re-doing the seals because the last reseal was done very ugly like.

Bearfan · 06-05-2004, 08:07 AM

Just had a thought...no one asked...this is glass and not an acyrlic tank, right?

Boy, this would seriously jack up an acrylic tank.

rossmort · 06-05-2004, 09:43 AM

GLASS!!!!

06-04-2004, 09:30 PM	#1
rossmort Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: IOWA Posts: 124 Images: 1	Cleaning the glass on a "old" aquarium Hi, I traded some fry for a 30 gallon breeder tank and I cannot get the glass clear. It has a "film" on each side of the glass an no matter how hard I scrub or use a razor it won't come off. Is there any special "Cure All" to get glass clear? Help would be appreciated, because without it, I will have to toss the tank and it was going to be my fun summer project Thanks

06-04-2004, 10:27 PM	#2
trenac Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: North Carolina Posts: 207 Images: 7	Have you tried vinegar? __________________ A dog has lots of freinds because he wags his tail and not his tongue.

06-04-2004, 10:31 PM	#3
bunebop Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: May 2004 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 250 Images: 12	You could try that goo-off stuff or whatever it's called. It works really well, but you'll haveta be sure you get it completely off the tank... it's most liekly very toxic for your fishies. __________________ Ashley ~12-13 [acronym:3831520aa0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:3831520aa0] [acronym:3831520aa0="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:3831520aa0] hex w/ 4 female bettas and a recovering black skirt tetra ~55 [acronym:3831520aa0="Gallon"]gal[/acronym:3831520aa0][acronym:3831520aa0="Freshwater"]FW[/acronym:3831520aa0] ~6 zebra danios (I think, haven't seen some in a while), ~7 black skirt tetras, 1 clown pleco, 1 cory cat, 3 pit bull plecos, 1 baby guppy in a breeders net, and 1 red minor tetra I also have a couple other tanks w/o fish as right now I do not have the room/time and there is a chance of moving in the "near" future so I don't want to get more fish for them. I'm downsizing for the moment.

06-04-2004, 11:17 PM	#4
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	I used CLR on one tank once that had a calcium film and it works well. I rinsed it for about an hour afterward in a high volume stream (garden hose). __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

06-05-2004, 03:03 AM	#6
youronlysin Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Toano, Virginia! Posts: 649 Images: 10	With the Vinegar, you may have to let it "sit" on one area for 24 hours for it to perform. I've removed some "impossible" stains and dis-colorations with full-strength vinegar after a 24 hour period, sometimes scrubbing with a vinegar-salt solution before I rinse. If none of those methods work, then chances are the glass is etched, and I'm afraid there is nothing you can do to fix that. The next step may be mechanical buffing with a polishing media and electric buffer. Good luck. __________________ I almost dated a psychic..... She left me before we met.

06-05-2004, 12:44 AM	#5
rossmort Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: IOWA Posts: 124 Images: 1	I have tried viniger, lemon juice and a "CLR" type stuff to no avail. Also tried Ajax (Abrasive) cleaner and a scrub pad but it wont come off

06-05-2004, 03:06 AM	#7
shawmutt Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Greencastle, PA Posts: 2,050 Images: 6	Well, I know car detailers will go after a "filmy" windshield with a razorblade and steel wool, perhaps it will work for an aquarium. I would be careful with the tank. With all the work you have done in it so far, the silicon seals may be compromised. __________________ ~Mike Shaw Shawmutt.com. Blogs and Pictures of the Massively Multiplayer Offline game, Real Life.

06-05-2004, 08:07 AM	#9
Bearfan Aquarium Advice Addict Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Marquette, MI Posts: 3,554 Images: 45	Just had a thought...no one asked...this is glass and not an acyrlic tank, right? Boy, this would seriously jack up an acrylic tank. __________________ 75 gal w/ 75 gal sump, 25 gal fuge with Chaeto and 25 gal frag - 4x65 PC w/ Moonlite on the main tank, 2x20W PC on the fuge, 4x20W PC on the frag 72 Gal Bowfront Planted w/ 2x65 PC and 40W T8

06-05-2004, 09:43 AM	#10
rossmort Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: IOWA Posts: 124 Images: 1	GLASS!!!!

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