White grime on tank

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:35 pm Post subject: White grime on tank

I was just wondering if there was some magical (inexpensive) way to get the grime that forms off of my tank?

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

what do you mean by grime? do you mean on the outside of the glass dripping down? is it a fresh or saltwater tank?

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 7:56 pm Post subject:

It's a freshwater. Like the stuff that forms when water evaporates. It's like a layer of white stuff that's on the hood and the sides of the inside of the tank.

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

hmmm, i have no clue what that could be.....maybe a little bit of a calcium deposit? how odten are you changing the water in the aquarium?

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:15 pm Post subject:

I have to admit I had not changed it for about 2-3 weeks. Sad

I just changed it today and this stuff was bothering me because it will not come off easily.

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

if its not coming off that easily, it may be a bit of calcium........is it in like a thin layer or in clumps? if the thin layer, i have that too a little bit on one of my tanks here the water line is.

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:28 pm Post subject:

Yea, a thin layer but since I hadnt changed it in so long its a wide strip of it and it's annoying to me. Is there some way to get rid of it?

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

i think the only wy is it rub it. try wetting the spot, then using an algae pad, it should take it off pretty easy

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:33 pm Post subject:

That's what I've been doing. The algea pad isnt working well. I've been scrubbing at it with the plastic of a toothbrush I'm so frustrated.

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

hmmm, idk then.....if kc5gvn sees, hopefully he will post here.....he used to work in a LFS for years, so he should know how to clean it

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 8:51 pm Post subject:

Okay. Thanks for trying to help me. Smile

I do have a couple of pics but I dont know how to post them.

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

go to photobucket.com, create an account then upload he pics there.. then the part under the pics u uploaded that says IMG just copy/paste it all to here.

t_chelle16 · Moderator Joined: 22 Mar 2004 Posts: 3437

If it's calcium deposits and you still have fish in the tank, probably the only thing you can do it carefully try to scrape it off with a razorblade. It doesn't really hurt anything, it's just unsightly. I recommend trying to keep your water level above the bottom of the top trim. That way even if you do get the deposits, it will be hidden by the trim.

If the tank is empty, you can try some vinegar.

-Chelle

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:05 pm Post subject:

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:09 pm Post subject:

Thanks t_chelle. That'll come in handy with my empty tank and I'll try the razorblade thing with my other one. Very Happy

~Esgalfey[/quote]

Esgalfey · Posted: Thu Mar 31, 2005 11:21 pm Post subject:

Here's a pic of the stuff on my tank.

Fish Addict · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 12:51 am Post subject:

You can use a razor to get rid of it

grnlemonade · Super Senior Member Joined: 24 Mar 2004 Posts: 1027

yea Esgalfey, that looks like calcium.

Petz8888 · Posted: Fri Apr 01, 2005 2:16 am Post subject:

I had the same thing on my tank. It came off when I rubbed with vinigar,
I had to scrub realy hard .

kc5gvn · Moderator Joined: 15 Mar 2004 Posts: 1147

Hi Esgalfey, What you have is calcium deposit. As Chelle said, you can use a rasorblade scraper to remove the deposit, but be careful not to put a scratch in the glass, and be especially careful around the silicone in the corners. I have never used vinegar on a tank that was running. I would be afraid of adverse effect on the fish. I have used vinegar to remove deposits on an empty tank. Once I have removed the deposits I then wipe it down with a bleach solution (about 1 capful of bleach to a cup of warm water) to remove the vinegar. After using the bleach solution I do a quick rinse out of the tank. After rinsing the tank I fill it with water and add a small bottle of the cheap chlorine remover and let it sit 24 to 48 hours to make sure the bleach is out of the tank. I then empty that water and start over with my setup. But then again, I may be a little over cautious.