How to Clean Mineral Deposits Off a Fish Tank with Vinegar

White mineral deposits are common on fish tank glass and fish tank components if you use hard water in your fish tank. Bleach can be used to remove the mineral buildup, but residual bleach is harmful to fish. A natural alternative that is very effective on mineral deposits is distilled white vinegar.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• white vinegar
• water
• spray bottle

1. Mix one part white vinegar with 3 parts water, which would be the equivalent of ¼ cup vinegar and ¾ cups water. Pour the vinegar and water in a spray bottle.

2. Drain the fish tank and remove the fish, turtles, plants, etc. Spray the water and vinegar mixture onto the sides of the fish tank where the white mineral scum is building up. You can also spray fish tank components such as fish tank heaters, filters, fake plants, and decorative components.

3. Leave the vinegar mixture on the fish tank for several minutes before washing it off. Rinse it off with water or wipe it off with a cloth. Rinse the fish tank and all the fish tank components before refilling it with water and replacing the fish.

4. Soak fish tank components, fish tank heaters and decorative features, which are heavily coated with white mineral deposits in straight vinegar. Fish tank components with a thick coating of mineral deposits may need to soak overnight. If the vinegar becomes murky, pour it out, replace it with fresh vinegar and continue soaking the fish tank components.