How to Get Rid of Aquarium Salt Deposits

It's important to remove salt deposits from aquariums.

Saltwater aquariums provide a mini ecosystem for marine animals, but they also require a lot of maintenance. Part of this maintenance is to remove salt deposits, or salt creep, from the glass. Salt creep occurs as tiny bits of salt water spray out of an aquarium. Over time, these droplets dissolve and build up on top of one another to form hard deposits of salt on the edge or side of aquarium glass. It's important to remove these deposits correctly.

Things You'll Need

• Plastic putty knife
• Paper towels
• Fresh water in a bucket or sprayer

Instructions

1. Place a plastic putty knife against the glass where the salt has built up.

2. Using short, hard strokes, chip the salt away from the glass. It may take several passes to remove the bulk of the deposit.

3. When the glass is clear of hard deposits, apply fresh water to a handful of paper towels using a sprayer or bucket of water.

4. Vigorously rub the paper towels over the area of the salt deposit. This will remove the fine film on the glass, as well as any remaining salt shavings.

5. Wipe down the area using dry paper towels. This will remove water from the glass and help prevent salt spray from spreading.

Tips & Warnings

• Monitor your aquarium for signs of salt creep, and remove salt deposits as soon as possible.

References

• Pet University: Maintenance