Is vinegar dangerous for fish

[El chapo]

I have an old 20 gallon aquarium with a bad calcium buildup on the sides. I was wondering if it was safe to use vinegar on the buildup and use the tank for fish

 

[Cichlid4life]

i think it can be harmful, but with the proper use of vineagar and with the proper way to get rid of the residue of the vineagar, i think it would become safe.

 

[Byron]

Agreed. Dilute the vinegar with water, and after rinse the tank with tap water and air dry. Salt can work, perhaps safer too. Just make sure you rinse well and air dry.

 

[Colin_T]

Vinegar is very acidic (pH around 3-4) so in large quantities or in a small volume of water it can drop the pH. However, for cleaning a tank it is fine. Soak a cloth with vinegar and wipe it over the glass, let it soak for a bit and rinse it off with tap water. Repeat if necessary.

After soaking with vinegar you can use a single sided razorblade (they have a smooth side and a sharp side) to scrape the calcium build up off the glass.

The amount of vinegar left over after rinsing the tank with fresh water will be virtually none so it won't affect the fish.

Vinegar will not damage the silicon (glue used to hold the glass together) and can be left in contact with the glass for hours or days if you like.

 

[Cichlid4life]

Vinegar is very acidic (pH around 3-4) so in large quantities or in a small volume of water it can drop the pH. However, for cleaning a tank it is fine. Soak a cloth with vinegar and wipe it over the glass, let it soak for a bit and rinse it off with tap water. Repeat if necessary.

After soaking with vinegar you can use a single sided razorblade (they have a smooth side and a sharp side) to scrape the calcium build up off the glass.

The amount of vinegar left over after rinsing the tank with fresh water will be virtually none so it won't affect the fish.

Vinegar will not damage the silicon (glue used to hold the glass together) and can be left in contact with the glass for hours or days if you like.

you finally typed a decently sized message with out using the dash marks
(-------------------) on it, well done!

 

[Colin_T]

I normally use the dotted/ dash lines to separate the different subjects so it's easier to follow

 

[Cichlid4life]

Oh, because they seem to be there because they make it all look neat, if you know what i mean.
---------------------------
It seemed as if you had OCD with your messages.
---------------------------
And i was only being sarcastic about it as a joke.

 

[Colin_T]

It helps separate the subjects and makes it neater. And I do have ocd
All good, I thought you were joking

 

[The Lumpfish Guy]

I know a few people who use something called bar keepers friend and swear by it. It's apparently used for glasses, kitchenware ect.
Never used it myself.
But with vinegar you can use it neat, just make sure you rinse the tank out thoroughly before you put fish back into it.

 

[Phil Fish]

Vinegar is probably one of the best things to use to clean a glass aquarium. After using it just rinse the tank out a few times and let it dry or wipe it down.

 

[Cichlid4life]

It helps separate the subjects and makes it neater. And I do have ocd
All good, I thought you were joking

I acctually was joking in the first place.

 

[Cichlid4life]

Vinegar is probably one of the best things to use to clean a glass aquarium. After using it just rinse the tank out a few times and let it dry or wipe it down.

Just mae sure you buy a new bottle of vinaeger for your wife or she would get mad as almost all of the vineager is gone!

 

[Jessie J.]

In small amounts it won't hurt the fish (the vinegar). Hence the common live food, vinegar eels.
BTW good job Collin at doing a post where you don't have to scroll down fifteen times to read it all.

 

[Cichlid4life]

In small amounts it won't hurt the fish (the vinegar). Hence the common live food, vinegar eels.
BTW good job Collin at doing a post where you don't have to scroll down fifteen times to read it all.

i was also thinkign of that. but i ahve seen him do it about five time now, so it is getting there ( just another joke).

 

[NickAu]

Fish, salt and vinegar now all I need are some chips ( fries ) and I have dinner.