Do You Think This Tank Can Be Cleaned?

[jarthel]

I am thinking of buying this setup. But I'm not sure if I can clean it. From the looks (and I'm just guessing), it seems it was a saltwater setup in its previous life. If it can be clean, how do I do it? what chemicals can I use?

here are the photos: http/img21.imageshack.us/gal.php?g=tank1rx.jpg

thank you for the help

 

[Harlequins]

I'm not sure about chemicals,vinegar is very good has use for gettin scale marks off.

Maybe a stanley knife window scraper-this is very good for removing the worse,

 

[rebrn]

you could definitely try vinegar, you might have to let it soak for a while to get some of it off. This may sound strange, but you could also try ammonia (make sure it is pure, the same stuff used for fish less cycling), just make sure you dilute it a bit as the smell will kill you. Ammonia is actually a really good glass cleaner and gets a lot of stuff off. Just rinse the tank real well after, and if you have a cycled filter the bacteria will take care of any residual ammonia, just check ammonia levels before adding fish. If you don't have a cycled filter and plan to do a fish less cycle, then the ammonia in the tank is exactly what you want, just make sure that your ammonia tests do not read higher than 4ppm, if it does do more rinsing (or water change if the tank is set up and full).

 

[Neesmo]

razor blade for the thick stuff

Kyle

 

[jarthel]

thanks everyone

 

[raptorrex]

thanks everyone

for gods sake dont soak it with vinegar. that will soften and, possibly, weaken the silicone. on such an ill looked after tank, that could spell disaster. 

 

[waterdrop]

If you have to scrub limescale with a plastic potscrubber or single-sided blade, a good procedure is to cut large chunks of lemon or lime and use the juicy inside-rind side to alternately wipe the glass surface as you scrub or scrape. The acid of the juice will be working along with your physical effort.

~~waterdrop~~

 

[raptorrex]

yep, elbow grease is whats needed. though soaking a scrubber in vinegar (not the whole tank) will help. though i bet lemon or lime will do just as well. same rules apply though. be careful of the silicone!!!

 

[OohFeeshy]

Assuming it's dry, I'd probably start off by seeing how much you can get out with a brush and a hoover. Then move on to scouring pad, then razor blade.