Reply With QuoteHow about filling more water to near the brim? Anyway, your tank looks like it needs more water.
Probably over time the stuff will dissolve into the water. I see the glass which is below water level seem clear enough.
Hi,
Picture tells all. I need help to clean up my tank (Should have done this before I start) The inside top portion (all sides) have stain which is difficult to remove. How can I clear the stain without harming plants/fishes.
Thanks in advance for all your advice.
ps - hope picture appears; n sorry if it is not clear.
How about filling more water to near the brim? Anyway, your tank looks like it needs more water.
Probably over time the stuff will dissolve into the water. I see the glass which is below water level seem clear enough.
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
The juggling apprentice fish
Water marks best resolved with more tank water to that level...
If not, then just use the tank water to gently wash/rub away the marks... They are afterall from the tank water... Just remember to do a water change inmmediately after the cleaning act...
Thanks for your replies.
I've tried rubbing it with sponge but it doesn't help. That is why I'm wondering if there are any plant/fish friendly chemicals which I can use.
I'll increase the water level and see if it clears.
Cheers
mab
Are you using an acrylic tank? My acrylic tank have the same problem too.Originally Posted by mab
Using 2 AC fan on my 5G tank, I manage to cool my tank to about 27 degrees cel. However, the evaporation rate is so fast and could easily evaporate 10% water everyday. After planting hairgrass, some floated up after my sword tails went pulling them out. Soon, they stained the side of the tank so badly that I had a hard time removing the stains scraping with expired credit card.
I gave up and thinking of buying a glass tank now...
Hi Goondoo,
I'm using a glass tank.
I agree that the stain could have come from evaporation; also it might come from water splashed from the oh filter I had when I was keeping louhan. I know nuts about maintaining an aquarium when somebody gave me that fish.
I know it is not easy to clean acrylic tank as they can easily scratch. I just set up my tank 3 weeks ago and I don't think I want to restart that again (maybe later with bigger tank)
I'll fill up my tank to the rim & might even use a black tape (2-3") to cover the top portion.
Cheers
mab
If it is a glass tank, try using some hard card like expired credit cards. You might be able to scratch them off slowly. Do not use sponge, or worst still those green and rough ones. It will scratch, even glass tank.
Use a little white vinegar on a cloth. It should remove the stains.
BC
Artificial Intelligence
Hi Mab,
I had the same problem with my 3 footer. What I did was for the first time I use the green part of the sponge to scrub it. Because i change water every week i would use the sponge to wipe the area every week, not using the green part. The dirty area cleared on the third week and has been clear ever since. Btw you might have to live with some scratches but can be minimise by wetting the area first.
Something about the water & the fishes that calms me down.
I agree totally. Most useful household liquid I've ever come across in this hobby... I drip it on BBA too. Turns them purple then white and dies off.... cleaning stains with vinegar is a breeze...
Cheerio!
Edmund Lee
The juggling apprentice fish
Advertising?
So, which brand of white vinegar is the best? Can use apple cider, since also natural vinegar? Keke...
BC,
After cleaning with vinegar the affected areas, rinse it with water, then top up water level over it, will it give a problem to plant/fishes?
Normal vinegar for cooking will do right?
Cheers
I find scrubbing off the stains a futile effort. Now I paste the black Oyama strip/tape on all my tanks and make sure the water level is above the bottom part of the tape ! So no more visible stain mark on my tanks and I find the the tanks look more prefessionlal with the black tape at the top
Last edited by Green Baron; 21st Jul 2005 at 12:26.
If you use small quantity at a time, it should pose no problem. Use the white vinegar, not the black one. The sythetic white vinegar should be fine.BC,
After cleaning with vinegar the affected areas, rinse it with water, then top up water level over it, will it give a problem to plant/fishes?
Cheers
BC
Green Baron,I find scrubbing off the stains a futile effort. Now I paste the black Oyama strip/tape on all my tanks and make sure the water level is above the bottom part of the tape ! So no more visible stain mark on my tanks and I find the the tanks look more prefessionlal with the black tape at the top
I think the tape will be my last effort. As my tank is just 2 x 1 x 1 ft, I don't want to make it look smaller. I've increased the water level last night and the stain doesn't seem visible (I might have to look at it during day time; maybe this weekend). Let me try the viniger 1st.
Cheers
The tape should not make the tank look smaller. For small tank, you can use tape which is 3/4 or 1 inch high. On my 1 ft tank I use 1 inch tape while on the 3ft tank I use 2 inch tape.
Am I right that the Oyama strip/tape do not leave any sticky substance on the glass when removed? Otherwise, more problem to remove stains on the outside of the tank...I find scrubbing off the stains a futile effort. Now I paste the black Oyama strip/tape on all my tanks and make sure the water level is above the bottom part of the tape ! So no more visible stain mark on my tanks and I find the the tanks look more prefessionlal with the black tape at the top
koah fong
Juggler's tanks
Koah Fang,Am I right that the Oyama strip/tape do not leave any sticky substance on the glass when removed? Otherwise, more problem to remove stains on the outside of the tank...
I have no idea as I have not found a need to remove them. Even if they do leave a mark it should be pretty easy to remove with solvent.
I have a strip of Oyama Paper on all my tanks' tops and my water level is within the width of the strip. If pasted properly (the soap water regime), Oyama paper doesn't leave sticky stains at all.
Makes the tank look neater and I don't have to bother about water stains which I did last time. I have 2x1x1 footers with that too and on the contrary, I feel it frames up the visual contents of the tank.
But in any case, I used to use the same white vinegar thats used for cooking to clean water spots and kill BBA; I even add it in some of my apisto tanks to make the water more acidic. No side effects at all...
If you ask me, vinegar's good stuff man....
Cheerio!
Edmund Lee
Yippie!! Reptiles and Fishies!
the sticky substance if any can be removed with a little cooking oil rub...then soap rinse... easy peasy..
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