FishProfiles.com Message Forums

I'm not entirely sure what that white stuff could be. Possibly chemical or salt deposits. What do you put into your tank?

As for windex, I don't think that would be a great idea. You generally want to avoid using any sort of detergent in or around your fish tanks, because as the fish are living in very small environments, even trace amounts of chemicals getting into their water can do harm. Distilled water might help, or an algae scrub or un-soaped scrubby sponge.

the tank may seen under stocked now but when they grow, they will be too big, and DO NOT USE WINDEX!!!!! or anyother chemical around or in the fish tank it will kill the fish, i use a metal scrubber thingy, works great

oh and the white is hard water deposits

Last edited by fishyhelper288 at 07-Mar-2005 19:12

windex has ammonia so it might not be a good idea

I have a glass tank that I got used that is, well, a mess. It has fish in it (long story, see bottom) and I want to clean it.

Just water doesn't seem to do it. Is it OK to use windex, so long as I spray it on the paper towel away from the tank (so none gets in the air) or should I use something else?

Also the top (black bumpy plastic) has some major crusty deposits of who knows what. I tried scrubbing with an algae scrubber and even scraping at it with a razor blade. The razor blade sort of works, but it only gets off one thin line of the crusties. I scraped it like crazy and scrubbed more and now I have patchwork crusties, and little lines in my black bumpy stuff, but still the crusties remain.

What are the white crusties? How do I make them go away? They are on the top of the lid, so if I used chemicals on them I could probably rinse a billion times and be fine, but I don't even know what chemicals might work - and I figure someone here must know....



* Opitonal: the long story: The tank had clearly healthy fish in it when I bought it and when I came to pick it up the fish moved to another tank - after getting it home it I put back in the still-wet gravel and whisper filter (didn't change or rinse sponges or anything) and seem to have managed to keep the biological filtration going ok - but I put fish in it really quick. It's severely understocked anyway (2 1in goldfish in 42 gallons) but there are nitrates and no ammonia or nitrites, so I think we're good!

If you use distilled water to clead it will make getting the hard water crust easier.

Mike

I never use cleaning chemicals in the same room as my tanks. If I lived on my own I would probably not use any cleaning chemicals at all. There are many safe household items out there that can be used just as well if you're willing to scrub a bit, and you don't have to worry about contaminating your pets or yourself. The indoor environment is very polluted. Here's a quote from an article the Skeptical Aquarist did on Toxic contaminants:

Chronic, or long-term toxic effects are more insidious and can register as "diseases." Long-term toxicity can result in kidney and liver and spleen malfunctions eventually manifested as "bloat" and "dropsy" and in depression of the immune system, which subtly renders the fish vulnerable to pathogens.

Indoor pollution can be unexpectedly high, the E.P.A. tells us, especially inside modern, energy-efficient, airtight home construction. I saw on the Web recently that elevated CO2 levels in tightly-enclosed spaces were thought to be depressing the pH levels in some marine reef aquaria; when windows were opened a crack, pH levels rose. I'm not sure that I credit this tale without reservation, but it carries a good point.

Even if you methodically scrub the lotions and scents from your hands and arms every time you are going to dip them into an aquarium, indoor toxins abound, merely settling out of your air: substances released by incomplete combustion in heating and cooking, the ubiquitous perfumes and deodorizers in consumer goods and air-"fresheners," aerosol propellants, household cleaning agents and unaired dry-cleaning, even decorating materials (remember "toxic carpet shock?" and tobacco smoke, of course--— all these can be more concentrated within the home than anything you'd be likely to encounter outdoors. These pollutants are found in aerosol droplets that settle onto the water surface, or they bind to household dust, which gets into the aquarium system.

[link=http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/toxic.shtml]http://www.skepticalaquarist.com/docs/health/toxic.shtml" style="COLOR: #CAFB0B[/link]

Vinegar on a rag, as shannen said, will remove the hard water mineral deposits from the outside of the tank. In fact, vinegar can even be used (carefully) to clean the inside surfaces of the tank, hood and equipment. Not something you would want to do with any commercial cleaner. Even the "eco-friendly" cleaners should be avoided as they often contain alcohol, fragrance, or other things that are toxic to fish. I only clean mine with basic household vinegar, hydrogen peroxide, baking soda, lemon juice and coarse salt with water.

I've always used windex with my tanks, and so has my mother, and we've all been keeping tanks since like...ever. Just don't spray it IN the tank, and I don't see what's worth the worry.

I have the white crusties on a few older tanks of mine... the vinegar idea sounds great

For inside the tank, use PH down. I have been using it for over 5 years at PETCO to get rid of the white stuff inside the tank....

Vinegar works great for getting off mineral deposits from hard water. It works best if you soak a rag or paper towel in it and then let that sit on the spots for quite a while and keep the cloth real wet. It softens up the crusty stuff so it will just wipe off. May take a couple of applications, but it won't damage the surface and isn't toxic to the fish.

Baking soda with vinegar also works good on glass because it is a mild abrasive and won't scratch.


Last edited by MO at 07-Mar-2005 23:25

I use Windex on my tanks all the time and have had no problems. As long are you are using it on the outside of the tank (obviously), and you have an IQ level at or above average, then you don't really have much to worry about.

I have tried using many different methods of cleaning the front of the tank (plain water, vinegar, RO water, etc) and I have found that none of those work as well as Windex for getting the glass nice and shiny.






Last edited by Cory Addict at 07-Mar-2005 22:36

---

I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.

Vinegar is the best way to rid yourself of hard water stains. As with the cleaning of the outside of the glass, I'm with Vict in that windex is fine. I use it all the time on my tanks.

Or do what I do and use the windex pre soaked wipes. It works a treat without any of it getting into the tank

my dad uses windex all of the time to clean the glass.

I think people are too cautious around their fish, everyone is like OMG YOU HAVE TO CLEAN THAT FOR LIKE A GAZILLION HOURS TO MAKE IT STERAL.

I have watched my dad do stuff that you people would yell at me about, and i can say that all of his fish are fine.

As long as you have a top on the tank, i dont see why you cant use windex.

Right on -

So I'm hearing metal scrubby (with no soap) could help
Distilled water could help
The 'crusties' are hard water/lime deposits - come off with vinegar on a rag
General advice is: Windex is risky, don't use. If you do be SUPER sure it doesn't get in.

Follow-up question:

I realize I don't actually have Windex (for window-washing). I have "Trader Zen No-Streak Multi-Purpose Clenser" Ingredients: Water, Cedarwood and Clary Sage Essential Oils, Grain Alcohol, Natural Surfactants, Color and water.

It seems to have no ammonia - might that be ok? Not to get in the tank, but to use carefully on the outside? The alcohol will evaporate quickly and sage and cedarwood oils don't seem so horrible? Any guesses?

Melissa

The crusties are hard water/lime deposits. Use vinagar on a rag to disolve it.

I wouldn't use windex on the hood, but sprayed onto a cloth away from the tank is fine. Just be sure you don't touch the inside of the tank with the rag. Outside only.

u get the deposits from when u dont top off the tank regularly, so the water dries, then the "crusties" form

It's a used tank, so I'm not sure what was put in it before. It had a catfish, a few guppies and tetras when I saw it.

I've realized that it also has white crusties on the top edge of the tank. I'm guessing the guy had the tank for a LONG time and rarely did water changes - I'm guessing the crusties are some kind of mineral build-up, but I don't know.