Moving Fish Tank Now, How To Clean Algae From Wood?

[addy_010]

so im moving my fish tank today (180L) a tiny bit to the right and forward so i can fit my hand/items behind the tank, and also changing the sand in the tank, ready for a load of new stuff to make the tank much nicer and healthier.

atm i have a massive piece of wood in the tank which has algae on it at the top, i want to still use this wood so wondering how i can remove the algea? i have tried a few months ago to just take it out and take it off with my hands but that didn't work, neither did shooting it with a pressure shower. Cani add say like vinager to it to kill it perphaps? it's the same with a couple of the big stone i have; they have some algae on them and i would like to remove it before putting them back into the tank.

any help appreciated.

also any tips for moving a tank? i have a load of buckets to remove the fish first and try to keep as much water from before as possible, any thing else i should remember to do?

 

[Shrimper]

so im moving my fish tank today (180L) and changing the sand in the tank, ready for a load of new stuff to make the tank much nicer and healthier.

atm i have a massive piece of wood in the tank which has algae on it at the top, i want to still use this wood so wondering how i can remove the algea? i have tried a few months ago to just take it out and take it off with my hands but that didn't work, neither did shooting it with a pressure shower. Cani add say like vinager to it to kill it perphaps? it's the same with a couple of the big stone i have; they have some algae on them and i would like to remove it before putting them back into the tank.

any help appreciated.

also any tips for moving a tank? i have a load of buckets to remove the fish first and try to keep as much water from before as possible, any thing else i should remember to do?

Shrimp will eat it off, but you probably want something quicker!

You could try using a presure washer. They are a lot more powerful than a power shower. You should be able to blast any alage off the surface. Another option would be a clean (new prefrably to avoid soap contamination) washing up brush or scouring pad.

I wouldn't use any chemical to clean it unless you know 100% its safe for your fish.

 

[addy_010]

thanks for the reply, i have been considering getting a fish that eats the algae but with the fish i have atm, ie angel fish and 2 synodontis catfish i am unsure what i could get that would be ok with them.

i will try usuing a new sponge and see it that works.

afaik once the tank is finished how i want it the plants should kill the algae and prevent any from growing again so it should be ok eventually but for now i want to remove it

thanks again


ahh that was the other thing i want to know, how do i remove the white dried stuff at the top of the water line in the tank, i think it is called calcium? i have tried removing it with the algae glass scrapper but that doesn't work, well atleast not showing any obvious results.

 

[deucebrennan]

thanks for the reply, i have been considering getting a fish that eats the algae but with the fish i have atm, ie angel fish and 2 synodontis catfish i am unsure what i could get that would be ok with them.

i will try usuing a new sponge and see it that works.

afaik once the tank is finished how i want it the plants should kill the algae and prevent any from growing again so it should be ok eventually but for now i want to remove it

thanks again


ahh that was the other thing i want to know, how do i remove the white dried stuff at the top of the water line in the tank, i think it is called calcium? i have tried removing it with the algae glass scrapper but that doesn't work, well atleast not showing any obvious results.

I used an old electric toothbrush. works a treat and you dont need to remove stuff from the tank to clean it.

 

[Rooster]

Nail brush.... or go OTT and bleach it to death, followed but a GOOD rinsing and dose of dechlor !

 

[Dubby]

The best way to kill the algae is soak the wood in mild bleach 1:20 for around 5 mins and then clean using dechlorinated water.

You can get rid of the limescale (white calcium deposits) by dipping a cloth in a vinegar and wiping the limescale. Watch it peel away like magic.

 

[ShoC]

I wouldn't risk bleach as wood soaks this crap up

just use good old fashion elbow grease get a toothbrush I do exactly the this and it works a treat
as an added bonus you get patchy algae which looks really good and natural

 

[Eigdoog]

I may be to late to say this but, my lfs told me to boil any wood to fast clean it so i would guess you could do it here and maybe buy a tooth brush as well (two for 14p at tesco) thats what i use.

 

[Rooster]

Thats just brought up another idea - steam clean !!!! We have one of those little steamer things.... Ill try that next time !

 

[anodized]

soak it with peroxide .. then let it dry in the sun for a day.

 

[aibo210]

would not spraying it with 1to3 ratio seachem excel and leaving it for 20min and rinseing it off kill it off ? i find it works wonders on plants!