Is my tank ruined?

[Lestat]

Hi,

I recently tore down my 46 bowfront FOWLR to move. I farmed the fish out,
and emptied it. There was a lot of coraline algae crusted on the glass.
I wasnt able to scrape much of it off. In a gesture of desparation (and
lack of time to mess with it) I sprayed Tilex bathroom cleaner on it
hoping to dissolve it (it works SO well on my tub).

It didnt work. The algae is still there. So I need to know about future
use of this tank. Which of the following is true:

A) I can use the tank, just rinse it out very well first.

B) I can use the tank, but first I must scrape the coraline crust off,
and rinse/clean it very thoroughly.

C) I have ruined this tank forever, and I might as well throw it away.

My next application for this tank will be a rain forest vivarium with
poison frogs, but it will need to be as clean as for a marine tank.

Also, what can I do to help remove the coraline crust, other than a
scraper and elbow grease?

TIA
Phil

[Xdudimus Maximus]

"Lestat" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I recently tore down my 46 bowfront FOWLR to move. I farmed the fish out,
> and emptied it. There was a lot of coraline algae crusted on the glass.
> I wasnt able to scrape much of it off. In a gesture of desparation (and
> lack of time to mess with it) I sprayed Tilex bathroom cleaner on it
> hoping to dissolve it (it works SO well on my tub).
>
> It didnt work. The algae is still there. So I need to know about future
> use of this tank. Which of the following is true:
>
> A) I can use the tank, just rinse it out very well first.
>
> B) I can use the tank, but first I must scrape the coraline crust off,
> and rinse/clean it very thoroughly.
>
> C) I have ruined this tank forever, and I might as well throw it away.
>
> My next application for this tank will be a rain forest vivarium with
> poison frogs, but it will need to be as clean as for a marine tank.
>
> Also, what can I do to help remove the coraline crust, other than a
> scraper and elbow grease?
>
> TIA
> Phil


Rinse very very very well.

In the future, use a razor blade. Works good for me, although I never scrape
coralline
off except from the front of the tank.


X

[George]

"Xdudimus Maximus" > wrote in message
...
> "Lestat" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I recently tore down my 46 bowfront FOWLR to move. I farmed the fish out,
>> and emptied it. There was a lot of coraline algae crusted on the glass.
>> I wasnt able to scrape much of it off. In a gesture of desparation (and
>> lack of time to mess with it) I sprayed Tilex bathroom cleaner on it
>> hoping to dissolve it (it works SO well on my tub).
>>
>> It didnt work. The algae is still there. So I need to know about future
>> use of this tank. Which of the following is true:
>>
>> A) I can use the tank, just rinse it out very well first.
>>
>> B) I can use the tank, but first I must scrape the coraline crust off,
>> and rinse/clean it very thoroughly.
>>
>> C) I have ruined this tank forever, and I might as well throw it away.
>>
>> My next application for this tank will be a rain forest vivarium with
>> poison frogs, but it will need to be as clean as for a marine tank.
>>
>> Also, what can I do to help remove the coraline crust, other than a
>> scraper and elbow grease?
>>
>> TIA
>> Phil
>
>
> Rinse very very very well.
>
> In the future, use a razor blade. Works good for me, although I never scrape
> coralline
> off except from the front of the tank.
>
>
> X
>

He could try soaking a rag in strong vinegar, then laying the rag over where the
coraline algae is located on the glass. Let the rag sit on the deposits
overnight. That should start a chemical reaction and loosen the calcium
deposits enough to make scraping them with the razor blade an easier chore.
Then just rinse the whole tank with a solution of sodium bicarbonate and rinse
that with plain water until the tank is clean. Repeat if necessary.

[Lestat]

Thanks guys. Glad to hear I didnt blow it.

Actually, I WAS using a razor blade. A 4" razor blade paint scraper from
Home Depot. LOL. That stuff is on there good, and I waited to the last
minute to deal with the tank for the move, hence the lack of time, and
desparate measures.

I'll try the vinegar idea. Sounds promising.

Cheers.

[Kevin & Donna Sanders, M.D.]

I have scratched glass with a razor blade so I
agree with the vinegar after soaking for 30-40 minutes it will just wipe
off. You can also use muriatic acid from lowes/home depot in the brick
section but be extremely careful I put about a cup in 5 gallons of water
and wear goggles in case you splash your eyes. It is hydrochloric acid
with a pH < 1

Kevin

[George]

"Kevin & Donna Sanders, M.D." > wrote in message
news:3x9Nd.20421$Vg3.19196@lakeread05...
>I have scratched glass with a razor blade so I
> agree with the vinegar after soaking for 30-40 minutes it will just wipe off.
> You can also use muriatic acid from lowes/home depot in the brick section but
> be extremely careful I put about a cup in 5 gallons of water and wear goggles
> in case you splash your eyes. It is hydrochloric acid with a pH < 1
>
> Kevin
>

If you've never used it before, I wouldn't recommend using muriatic acid. It it
very dangerous, and then there is the issue of disposing of the waste. Vinegar
will do the job safely, is less dangerous to work with, and can be neutralized
with sodium bicarbonate before disposing of it in the sewer. Muriatic acid is
very reactive, so you definitely don't want to dump it un-neutralized in the
sink, especially if any of it is made of aluminum (it will generate hydrogen
gas, and can rearrange your house).

[Phil Tomaskovic]

Would the muriatic acid break down the aquarium cement if it was too strong?

Does vinegar really work on encrusted coraline algae? I am tearing down an
old acrylic tank and it has very bad large amounts of coraline on the front.

[Kevin & Donna Sanders, M.D.]

vinegar will definitely work and is safer than muriatic acid ( HCl ) which
is a 1000 X stronger than vinegar ( ph 0 vs pH 3) . It may take a little
longer to soften up the coralline which will then wipe off with a sponge

Kevin

"Phil Tomaskovic" > wrote in message
...
> Would the muriatic acid break down the aquarium cement if it was too
> strong?
>
> Does vinegar really work on encrusted coraline algae? I am tearing down an
> old acrylic tank and it has very bad large amounts of coraline on the
> front.
>
>

[George]

"Phil Tomaskovic" > wrote in message
...
> Would the muriatic acid break down the aquarium cement if it was too strong?
>
> Does vinegar really work on encrusted coraline algae? I am tearing down an
> old acrylic tank and it has very bad large amounts of coraline on the front.
>

I'm not sure how muriatic acid would affect aquarium cement. Certainly I would
dilute it if I was going to use it at all. Having said that, Coraline algae is
composed of aragonite (or calcite - I forget which - both are calcium
carbonate). It will disolve in vinegar, given enough time. And vinegar is much
safer to use. I'm a geologist, and have used both vinegar and muriatic acid to
disolve calcite deposits. Although muriatic acid works faster, it can be
dangerous to use. You don't want to get it on your skin or your clothes, and
you must keep it away from aluminum, since the reaction between the two can
generate hydrogen gas, which, in the presence of an open flame, will thoroughly
rearrange your house. It should not be used in an enclosed area, as the fumes
can damage your lungs. If it was me, I'd use the vinegar. Have a little
patience with it, as it takes a little longer to work. But it does work well.

[Lestat]

"George" > wrote in
news:_NUOd.51485$4I2.24351@attbi_s01:

>
> <snip> If it
> was me, I'd use the vinegar. Have a little patience with it, as it
> takes a little longer to work. But it does work well.
>
>

I used vinegar and it worked. I still needed the razor blade, but at
least it came loose this time. I used a 50/50 solution of white distilled
vinegar and water. Soaked paper towels in it, and laid them on the
affected areas (only one layer deep). I let it sit over night. In the
morning it was all dried. And I scraped it off, with a some effort. I
suppose, more vinegar may have helped more,

One thing I have noticed is that in the areas of the most coraline crust,
there are definite marks on the glass that I cant remove. I did a whole
nother vinegar treatment just on these marks, and they dont move at all.
Not with a sponge, or a razor blade, or anything. I dont even feel
anything there with the blade or by touch. But the marks remain, looks
similar to waterspots. It really doesnt matter, because they're very
subtle, you have to look for them, and they're all on the back glass, so
inconsequential. But it makes me wonder it the coralline actually etched
the glass itself.

[B O]

I've used muriatic on tanks for years and have never seen any problems.
Just make sure you have some gloves and even some goggles would be a good
idea if you are going to be splashing the stuff. I often just use muriatic
straight. It softens up the coralline in a real hurry. It's a great way to
decalcify any plastics, glass, powerheads, etc. Just make sure to give a
good rinse after. If you are worried about the low pH effecting how you will
dispose of the chemical. Well the dissolved coralline will neutralize
somewhat and you could always empty a box of baking soda. It will cause a
great fizzzz as it neutralizes the low pH of the acid.

Good luck.



"George" > wrote in message
news:_NUOd.51485$4I2.24351@attbi_s01...
>
> "Phil Tomaskovic" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Would the muriatic acid break down the aquarium cement if it was too
>> strong?
>>
>> Does vinegar really work on encrusted coraline algae? I am tearing down
>> an
>> old acrylic tank and it has very bad large amounts of coraline on the
>> front.
>>
>
> I'm not sure how muriatic acid would affect aquarium cement. Certainly I
> would dilute it if I was going to use it at all. Having said that,
> Coraline algae is composed of aragonite (or calcite - I forget which -
> both are calcium carbonate). It will disolve in vinegar, given enough
> time. And vinegar is much safer to use. I'm a geologist, and have used
> both vinegar and muriatic acid to disolve calcite deposits. Although
> muriatic acid works faster, it can be dangerous to use. You don't want to
> get it on your skin or your clothes, and you must keep it away from
> aluminum, since the reaction between the two can generate hydrogen gas,
> which, in the presence of an open flame, will thoroughly rearrange your
> house. It should not be used in an enclosed area, as the fumes can damage
> your lungs. If it was me, I'd use the vinegar. Have a little patience
> with it, as it takes a little longer to work. But it does work well.
>

[Chippy]

Why would you dilute the vinegar? Wouldn't it work faster undiluted,
vinegar is not very dangerous?
"Lestat" > wrote in message
...
> "George" > wrote in
> news:_NUOd.51485$4I2.24351@attbi_s01:
>
>>
>> <snip> If it
>> was me, I'd use the vinegar. Have a little patience with it, as it
>> takes a little longer to work. But it does work well.
>>
>>
>
> I used vinegar and it worked. I still needed the razor blade, but at
> least it came loose this time. I used a 50/50 solution of white distilled
> vinegar and water. Soaked paper towels in it, and laid them on the
> affected areas (only one layer deep). I let it sit over night. In the
> morning it was all dried. And I scraped it off, with a some effort. I
> suppose, more vinegar may have helped more,
>
> One thing I have noticed is that in the areas of the most coraline crust,
> there are definite marks on the glass that I cant remove. I did a whole
> nother vinegar treatment just on these marks, and they dont move at all.
> Not with a sponge, or a razor blade, or anything. I dont even feel
> anything there with the blade or by touch. But the marks remain, looks
> similar to waterspots. It really doesnt matter, because they're very
> subtle, you have to look for them, and they're all on the back glass, so
> inconsequential. But it makes me wonder it the coralline actually etched
> the glass itself.
>

[George]

"Lestat" > wrote in message
...
> "George" > wrote in
> news:_NUOd.51485$4I2.24351@attbi_s01:
>
>>
>> <snip> If it
>> was me, I'd use the vinegar. Have a little patience with it, as it
>> takes a little longer to work. But it does work well.
>>
>>
>
> I used vinegar and it worked. I still needed the razor blade, but at
> least it came loose this time. I used a 50/50 solution of white distilled
> vinegar and water. Soaked paper towels in it, and laid them on the
> affected areas (only one layer deep). I let it sit over night. In the
> morning it was all dried. And I scraped it off, with a some effort. I
> suppose, more vinegar may have helped more,
>
> One thing I have noticed is that in the areas of the most coraline crust,
> there are definite marks on the glass that I cant remove. I did a whole
> nother vinegar treatment just on these marks, and they dont move at all.
> Not with a sponge, or a razor blade, or anything. I dont even feel
> anything there with the blade or by touch. But the marks remain, looks
> similar to waterspots. It really doesnt matter, because they're very
> subtle, you have to look for them, and they're all on the back glass, so
> inconsequential. But it makes me wonder it the coralline actually etched
> the glass itself.

Glad to see that it was successful. Next time, try covering the towels with
plastic sheeting to prevent them from drying out. That should help.

[phflyer21]

If it's a gass tank, use razor blades
" The tilex trick was not a real good idea, but I'd scrape the coraline,
wash the tank with a bleach/water solution 1:4 ratio, then fill with
freshwater and add a de-chlorinator like Prime and let it sit for a few
hours, and you should be set.

grunfeld in DetroitLestat" > wrote in message
...
> Hi,
>
> I recently tore down my 46 bowfront FOWLR to move. I farmed the fish out,
> and emptied it. There was a lot of coraline algae crusted on the glass.
> I wasnt able to scrape much of it off. In a gesture of desparation (and
> lack of time to mess with it) I sprayed Tilex bathroom cleaner on it
> hoping to dissolve it (it works SO well on my tub).
>
> It didnt work. The algae is still there. So I need to know about future
> use of this tank. Which of the following is true:
>
> A) I can use the tank, just rinse it out very well first.
>
> B) I can use the tank, but first I must scrape the coraline crust off,
> and rinse/clean it very thoroughly.
>
> C) I have ruined this tank forever, and I might as well throw it away.
>
> My next application for this tank will be a rain forest vivarium with
> poison frogs, but it will need to be as clean as for a marine tank.
>
> Also, what can I do to help remove the coraline crust, other than a
> scraper and elbow grease?
>
> TIA
> Phil
>