Can’t Clean used Reef Tank Glas :/

[s3leyman]

Hello dear community,

I have recently purchased a used Red Sea Nano Max aquarium. Unfortunately, I am having difficulties cleaning the glass. (see photo) I can't get the stains on the top of the aquarium out. What I have already tried:

Lemon with vinegar and salt

And then water with baking soda

The stains are no longer visible when they come into contact with water. However, they do not disappear. When the glass dries, everything is still there.
I therefore ask for your help. Do you know what this could be and how I can remove these stains?

Thank you very much
S3leyman

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley]

Welcome to reef2Reef!

I'd try something like CLR or citric acid.

FWIW, I'm going to remove the emergency tag as cleaning glass is not it's intent.

 

[Gtinnel]

I’ve always used diluted muriatic acid to clean old tanks and it has worked well for me.

 

[Sandsquatch]

Get some citric acid, mix it with some water then using a spray bottle place paper towels over where you want to clean and spray your solution on to it so the paper towels stick in place. Leave for an hour or two and it should scrape off easily.

 

[Nburg's Reef]

Glass can get a permanent haze but that looks like calcified deposits so should clean up with some acid

 

[Kfactor]

have you tried wax paper and water it worked good for me cleaning my uv glass insert

 

[s3leyman]

Thank you very much everyone for your advices.
I have now bought citric acid and moistened paper towels with it and left it overnight.
Unfortunately, the stains are still there
(See photo). So do you think it’s a permanent haze like @NburgsReef mentioned ?
In your opinion, would it make sense to try hydrochloric (mutiatic) acid now?

Thank you very much.

 

[vdKroon]

I’ve always used diluted muriatic acid to clean old tanks and it has worked well for me.

+1

 

[Dan_P]

Thank you very much everyone for your advices.
I have now bought citric acid and moistened paper towels with it and left it overnight.
Unfortunately, the stains are still there
(See photo). So do you think it’s a permanent haze like @NburgsReef mentioned ?
In your opinion, would it make sense to try hydrochloric (mutiatic) acid now?

Thank you very much.

You can try muriatic acid. It might not work based on a recent experience. I have hinged glass covers over my aquarium that developed spots and a haze. Muriatic acid did not remove them. I have to wonder if glass can be etched by seawater.

 

[Dan_P]

You can try muriatic acid. It might not work based on a recent experience. I have hinged glass covers over my aquarium that developed spots and a haze. Muriatic acid did not remove them. I have to wonder if glass can be etched by seawater.

Did a quick search just now and found this technical paper

https://proceedings.challengingglass.com/index.php/cgc/article/download/77/77/688#:~:text=corrosion%20of%20glass%20is%20faster,water%20than%20in%20demineralised%20water.

 

[VintageReefer]

Have you tried a flat razor blade and vinegar

 

[s3leyman]

Have you tried a flat razor blade and vinegar

Yeah I already tried that

 

[s3leyman]

The aquarium stood like this for a long time with the previous owner.

Interestingly, the stains are exactly in the area of the aquarium that was not under water.
Does this perhaps have something to do with it?

 

[VintageReefer]

Oh oh idea idea! Try a magic eraser

 

[Garf]

Yeah I already tried that

You've tried acid, you've tried scraping, have you tried a little bleach? One of those methods should shift it, I'd of thought.

Did a quick search just now and found this technical paper

https://proceedings.challengingglass.com/index.php/cgc/article/download/77/77/688#:~:text=corrosion%20of%20glass%20is%20faster,water%20than%20in%20demineralised%20water.

Odd to think glass corrodes, lol.

The aquarium stood like this for a long time with the previous owner.

Interestingly, the stains are exactly in the area of the aquarium that was not under water.
Does this perhaps have something to do with it?

I think you may end up buying a roll of black vinyl tape to hide it, if nothing else works. It may look quite smart anyway.

 

[s3leyman]

Oh oh idea idea! Try a magic eraser

Already tried … :/

 

[s3leyman]

You've tried acid, you've ried scraping, have you tried a little bleach? One of those methods should shift it, I'd of thought.

Odd to think glass corrodes, lol.

I think you may end up buying a roll of black vinyl tape to hide it, if nothing else works. It may look quite smart anyway.

I haven't tried the bleach yet. So I need to apply the bleach to a cloth and wipe the glass with it? The other question 8% or 12% bleach? Thank you very much.

 

[Garf]

I haven't tried the bleach yet. So I need to apply the bleach to a cloth and wipe the glass with it? The other question 8% or 12% bleach? Thank you very much.

More is, well, MORE. I'd use a little of the highest strength I could find, but it's probably just a last gasp hope, to be honest. I feel you should try it though, just before you order some vynil, lol.

 

[GlassMunky]

Its a permanent haze that wont go away. this happens on pretty much ALL aquariums that are used for LONG time periods (like 10 years plus) my old freshwater tanks have it, my biocube has it (still in use with the original model) and even my Newish 5 years old custom 210 tank has it. Its always at the water line and its only visible when the tank is dry though so you wont see it when the tank is running.

Odd to think glass corrodes, lol.

Not really. ALL materials corrode and weather away over time. its just that the timescale for glass is ALOT longer than most things. there is NO material that is inert to everything.

 

[DED65]

I was recommended this product to use on severely stained windows, from hard water, instead of replacement from a window company. They said that they use it all of the time to clean the water stains, I tried it and it really does work. I haven’t tried it on my tank yet, but it does state that it is aquarium safe. I get it through Amazon. It might be worth a shot.