How to Remove the Cigarette Nicotine Smell From an Aquarium Fish Tank

Clean aquariums keep your fish healthy

Getting cigarette smell out of anything can be challenging. The smell is in the tar residue that is left on surfaces. It sticks to porous and nonporous surfaces. Using products that contain no harsh chemicals, however, you can removed the tar and the smell in a few easy steps.

Things You'll Need

• Sink
• 2 buckets
• Bleach
• Large kitchen strainer
• Water
• Vinegar
• Spray bottle
• Cleaning cloth

Instructions

1. Fill the sink with water and add bleach. The ratio should be 10 to one.

2. Remove everything from the aquarium. This includes gravel, plants, and fish. Store the fish in a small bucket while you are cleaning the tank. Put the plants and other large objects in the sink to soak. Put the gravel in the strainer.

3. Rinse the gravel under hot water for three minutes. Leave out to air dry.

4. Mix one-half cup of vinegar with one-half gallon of water in the second bucket. Pour the mixture into a clean spray bottle.

5. Spray the vinegar solution on the cloth and use it to wipe down the inside and outside surfaces of the aquarium. Be sure to wipe off every sign of discoloring. Rinse with water and wipe with a clean cloth. Air dry the aquarium.

6. Add the gravel, plants, and fish back to the aquarium.

Tips & Warnings

• Spray cleaning solution on the cloth and then wipe the glass.

• Never use chemicals that contain ammonia to clean a fish tank. Ammonia kills fish.

• Always use new, clean bottles and cloths when cleaning your tank unless the items have only been used to clean the tank before.

References

• Yamato Green: Clean Aquarium Glass Safely