Help....

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:14 am

So I just bought a used 55 gallon tank strictly for loaches. The tank hadn't been used for (probably) 3 months. The inside was full of calcium deposits.

I cleaned it up with vinegar. Scrubbed it good with new scrubby pads until all of the (inside) surface was smooth. Now, there is "patches" of "white" films on it that I couldn't take off at all. I even tried to scrap it off with a razor blade but to no success....

I really don't know what else to do. I tried to search online how to clean it or what is that film to no avail....

Can anyone help me please...

TIA

Tad · Post by **Tad** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:35 am

Just curious--maybe the white patches are etching from someone using the wrong cleaners on it. Some of my older drinking glasses have white etching spots from the various dishwashes they have seen. I have lived a lot of places and seen the damage that inappropriate cleansers can do. While CLR (on tv long ago) and toilet bowl cleaner seem to work miracles--the acid actually ruins anything they come in contact with.
No other ideas from me--sorry.

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:43 am

Try citric acid crystals. These are in the grocery stores, with herbs and spices. Might be called sour salt. Wear gloves.
Make a slurry out of it, and rub it on. Keep it damp, let it sit, then scrub it off.

It the white fog is from acidic etching there is not much you can do. If the fog is the remnants of carcium carbonate then this will work.

Tad · Post by **Tad** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:27 am

Sweet--thanks Diana--I will try that on things too--I never knew that.

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 4:16 pm

Thanks Diana! I'll try it this weekend. Thanks again for your advice

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Fri Jul 06, 2007 9:49 pm

Let me know how it works for you- I have not had much luck with vinegar, and even cola did not shift some of these marks. The citric acid worked.

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 9:11 pm

Couldn't find citric acid here.... I did more research and found a product called Spot-X at home depot. Here's the website: http://www.glass-restorer.com/

Anyone here's tried it before?

Thank you

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:29 pm

Sounds like pretty safe stuff, care to be a guinea pig?

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:38 pm

Nope, the Spot-x didn't work >,<
I have to find a chemist in the area to find the citric acid. That's my last resort.....

Thanks for your help, Diana.

Laura · Post by **Laura** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:44 pm

I'm pretty sure you can get citric acid at wine making stores....

Diana · Post by **Diana** » Sun Jul 08, 2007 11:57 pm

It is the 'sour' stuff on kids' candy, like gummy worms and other sour 'treats'. Too sour for my taste, though.

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 12:56 am

Thanks Laura for the info. I just searched the local wine making website and they have it!

I hope it will help me cleaned up those nasty white "fog" - crossing my finger...

revhead · Post by **revhead** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:32 am

Here's what might be the silliest question yet:

Have you looked to see if the 'white haze' is there when there's water in the tank ?

Just that some tanks of mine look hazy when empty...

Hlie · Post by **Hlie** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:27 pm

That's what I thought at first too... It looked alright after I filled it up with water, but the next day.... I could see the white "fog" all over the glass...

I found the citric acid. Just looking for best time to clean it since it's really hot right now.

germGB · Post by **germGB** » Mon Jul 09, 2007 5:37 pm

Aren't limestone and calcium carbonate basically very similar?
If so try making a paste using biological washing powder...
Leave it for an hour or two then remove through normal wiping and lots of water. Should clear it up, or so i heard..

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