How to Clean Hard Water Stains from Aquarium Glass
One of the maintenance issues a tropical fish hobbyist becomes familiar with is removing hard water stains from the walls of the aquarium. These whitish lime and mineral deposits build up in time--more quickly if the local tap is hard water. If attended to immediately, they can easily by scraped off using a razor blade. But if left to grow thick, the stains become quite a challenge to remove. Fortunately, simple household remedies can do the trick.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Razor blade
- White vinegar
- Soft sponge or microfiber towel
- Dishtowel or hand towel
Instructions
-
-
1
Empty the aquarium. If the aquarium houses a fish community, transfer them to another tank. Remove all the décor and gravel, which can get contaminated during the cleaning process.
-
2
Scrape the thick lime deposits with a razor blade. Thick lime deposits will come off easily with a sharp blade. Take care not to scratch the glass with the corner ends of the blade. Apply some vinegar to the area to help soften the crusted deposits.
-
-
3
Lay the aquarium on its side and apply vinegar to the stained areas of the aquarium wall sitting at the bottom.
-
4
Scrub off as much of the lime scale as you can using a soft sponge or a microfiber towel.
-
5
Lay the vinegar-soaked microfiber towel on the glass to dissolve the remaining stains. Add a vinegar-soaked dishtowel to cover the rest of the affected aquarium glass. Let the vinegar soak for several hours (the towels will keep the vinegar from drying out too quickly).
-
6
Repeat the process on the other three walls of the aquarium. Let the vinegar soak for several hours per side to achieve the best results.
-
7
Rinse the aquarium thoroughly to remove all traces of the vinegar and lime deposits.
-
8
Consider scouring the sides of the aquarium with rock salt to dislodge and dissolve the hard water deposits.
-
9
Consider using a paste of vinegar and baking soda. Rinse the tank thoroughly afterwards.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If the tank is too large to lay on its side, attach a vinegar-soaked towel to the inside walls with a clamp, making sure the towel is constantly touching the walls. Or use a spray bottle to keep the aquarium walls moist with vinegar (spray every few minutes).
An alternative to vinegar is lemon juice, although vinegar works faster. A stronger alternative is a commercial chemical used for lime scale removal, although a serious, thorough rinsing should follow because the chemical is hazardous to fish.
Hard water stains and deposits can be tough to remove, and it is tempting to try rough and aggressive solutions. Refrain from using abrasive tools and chemicals that can scratch the aquarium glass or poison the fish.
