Ok, I have not read everything in the stickies, but I have looked.... I am getting a second hand tank. The whole thing appears to have been shut off and not cleaned - there is a salty residue over everything. I'm sure taking the ole Windex out and cleaning it is probably something that will kill anything that I plan to put in this thing, but how do you go about cleaning an aquarium? I figured I would just fill it with water, and submerge everything for a few days to just get things dissolving, but any recommendations on what I should to to prep it for the actual day I get to put something in it?
First Noob Question
- Thread starter Cool_fish
- Start date
reefteaser
Convince'em or confuse'em
50/50 vinegar and water first. If it's low iron glass, be extra careful as it will scratch easily. If not, a new sharp razor blade will help with the stubborn spots, but again go easy.
You could fill it with the vinegar water and check for leaks at the same time.
You could fill it with the vinegar water and check for leaks at the same time.
cprice
New member
Use basic elbow grease and dish soap to get everything started. Once you have removed most of everything, you can do a deep soak with water and vinegar. The vinegar will help dissolve the calcium deposits and other minerals that you want to remove. As long as you wash all the soap out you wont have any problem.
Welcome to the hobby! What size tank are you starting with?
Welcome to the hobby! What size tank are you starting with?
The tank is a 55 gallon. I figured that would be a good size to start with anyway. Anything bigger and I'd want to put half the ocean in it, lol. While anxious to see things in it, I am going to take this very patiently. I am a long time diver and love to see fish, so if I am taking something out of the open ocean, I want to (hopefully) make sure to give them a good home.
Thanks!
Thanks!
How would I know if it is low iron glass? I'll do some searching for this answer also....
Deefish714
New member
Ive seen comparison charts online. That might help.
theatrus
100-mile-commuter
Look at the edge - is it green or more of a bluish or clear tint? Green is common for normal float glass.
The reality is low iron glass actually has the same surface hardness as normal glass, however scratches may appear to be more visible.
As for cleaning, a vinegar bath is a great first step, along with a glass scraper once its all soaked in. Just don't scrape out the silicone edges.
You can also use the original Mr Clean Magic Erasers (not the ones with cleaner soaked in the sponge) which work wonders.
Power head?
Something like these:
http://www.amazon.com/Mr-Clean-Magi...778910&sr=8-2&keywords=Mr+Clean+Magic+Erasers
It says original, not sure if it has anything soaked into the sponge.
theatrus
100-mile-commuter
The originals are the ones you want. It's a very fine abrasive cleaner. I'd do the vinegar treatment first, and use these for spot cleanups.
Desert Sea
Member
Save Yourself The Aggravation
Save Yourself The Aggravation
Unless your tank is something other than a standard 55g, I would bag the second hand tank and head to Petco while they have their dollar per gallon sale going on and pickup a new one that is already clean and has a warranty. What's your time worth to you? By the time you figure the cost of the cleaning supplies and your time, you'll probably be a head of the game with a new tank.
If you decide to stick with the used tank, fill it and check for leaks before you go through the trouble of cleaning it. Clean junk is still junk......:headwally:
Save Yourself The Aggravation
Unless your tank is something other than a standard 55g, I would bag the second hand tank and head to Petco while they have their dollar per gallon sale going on and pickup a new one that is already clean and has a warranty. What's your time worth to you? By the time you figure the cost of the cleaning supplies and your time, you'll probably be a head of the game with a new tank.
If you decide to stick with the used tank, fill it and check for leaks before you go through the trouble of cleaning it. Clean junk is still junk......:headwally:
Dkuhlmann
New member
I second going to Petco but instead of the get the 40b it has a much better footprint IMO and IME. The 55 is only 12" from front to back and the 40b is 18" this makes a HUGE difference when you're aquascaping your rock work.
To me it's cheaper to go the Petco $ per gal rate than to clean any tank. Plus you don't have to worry about possible leaking and if it does you have a warranty.
Now go back and read the Red Arrow sticky
AND....
Welcome to Reef Central! :thumbsup:
To me it's cheaper to go the Petco $ per gal rate than to clean any tank. Plus you don't have to worry about possible leaking and if it does you have a warranty.
Now go back and read the Red Arrow sticky
AND....Welcome to Reef Central! :thumbsup:
runningrandy04
Member
+1 to petco sale. You'll spend close to that much on vinegar and lose 2 days of labor.
Pigpen17
New member
A submersible pump that moves water.
SFish
New member
I second going to Petco but instead of the get the 40b it has a much better footprint IMO and IME. The 55 is only 12" from front to back and the 40b is 18" this makes a HUGE difference when you're aquascaping your rock work.
To me it's cheaper to go the Petco $ per gal rate than to clean any tank. Plus you don't have to worry about possible leaking and if it does you have a warranty.
Now go back and read the Red Arrow sticky
Welcome to Reef Central! :thumbsup:
+1
55gal tanks suck. I would go with a 40 breeder or a 75. You'll want the 18" of width vs the 12" you have.
Wow, a 55gal tank for 55 bucks? I think you guys have me convinced. I wish I'd have seen that, but oh well. I have a nice wood enclosure though, which fits the 55 dimensions. I like the idea of the deeper tank, but I think on my first go around, I'll stick with the enclosure I have, which means a 55 gal tank. The nearest Petco is a ways away, but I might head that way this weekend to pick one up. The website says in-store only.
Cleaning this thing is not something I was looking forward to....
Cleaning this thing is not something I was looking forward to....
