Cleaning an Aquarium
By Nona Morris
@nonersays (3329)
United States
February 4, 2012 12:19pm CST
I just got an older 29 gal aquarium from my brother. I've kept aquariums in the past, but never taken an older one. This one has white stains on the glass of the aquarium and the hood and such.
I've been told they are hard water stains and I have been told they are calcium deposits.
Have you ever taken an older aquarium with white stains on it. If so, how did you clean the stains off?
What is the best way to get the white stains off of the aquarium glass in a way that wont possibly poison the future fish I will put in there.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@ShardAerliss (1488)
•
4 Feb 12
Thy probably are hard water stains (which are calcium deposits). Just use a normal bathroom cleaner that's designed to remove calcium deposits and give the tank a lot of rinsing out. Glass won't hold the chemicals and release them later, so as long as it's well rinsed the fish will be fine.
2 people like this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
4 Feb 12
Thank you. I'll probably try the vinegar first, and the bathroom cleaner if that doesn't work.
Do you think that apple cider vinegar would work? Thats all I have in my cabinet right now, and I'll try with it first.
@ShardAerliss (1488)
•
4 Feb 12
Give it a shot. Test it on a small area first, I wouldn't want you wasting all your cider vinegar, that stuffs expensive (well, the last bottle I bought was).
1 person likes this
@Robswife2006 (1208)
• United States
4 Feb 12
@ShardAerliss This is something that I wanted to know as well so thank you for the tips/advice on how to clean the white stains(calcium build up)from off your fish tank.
@Robswife2006 (1208)
• United States
4 Feb 12
I read the comments that were already left for your discussion because I too have a very big tank that has white stains on it due to Calcium build up. I always wondered just how I could get that clean & now thanks to you & your discussion I know. So thank you very much 
1 person likes this
@nonersays (3329)
• United States
4 Feb 12
You're welcome. Its always a good thing when a discussion can help more than one person.
@Fishmomma (11377)
• United States
29 Mar 12
Vinegar does work to remove the stains. My water causes calcium stains and I did purchase a tank that had stains also. It does take time to remove them, but suggest leaving the vinegar on longer for bigger surfaces.
@oscarbartoni (2581)
• United States
19 Feb 12
On the light fixture, put some vinager on a paper towel and then on the spoted area of the light fixture and let it set for a while before you try to remove it. Any where you have the deposits and cannot let the vinager set such as in the tank, you can put it on a paper towel and let it set to soften the stains.
1 person likes this
