Best Sponge to Clean Inside Glass

[Maddlesrain]

I'm looking for the best sponges to clean the inside glass panels with the lowest risk of scratching the glass. I have an Innovative Marine tank if that makes any difference in glass type. I've read that melamine sponges should be safe (and can buy a pack of 100 for less than $10 on Amazon), but want to confirm whether that's true or not? I have read some claims that this type of sponge can also make micro scratches?

What is your preferred sponge to gently clean the glass?

 

[Dragen Fiend]

Magic eraser. I use them on glass and acrylic tanks. No issues. Branded or off branded magic erasers. Just ensure its not a scented one.

 

[Fish Fan]

Magic eraser. I use them on glass and acrylic tanks. No issues. Branded or off branded magic erasers. Just ensure its not a scented one.

Yep, Magic Eraser all day. I honestly just hold it and use my hand, but many will sandwich a slice of Magic Eraser between the glass and a magnetic scraper. That way you can clean the glass with the Magic Eraser and avoid putting your hand in your tank, which is probably best practice.

BRS has these guys, which I've never tried, but I'm willing to bet these are just a Magic Eraser on a stick:
https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/nano-sparkly-sponge-on-a-stick-hydra-aquatics.html
Good luck!

 

[Maddlesrain]

Thank you! I was hoping to go that route. I'll checkout the ones on a stick as well!

I found these: https://a.co/d/5tJANyt

Would you trust them? From my understanding they're just the off-brand version of a magic eraser.

Thank you again for the recommendations!

 

[Fish Fan]

Thank you! I was hoping to go that route. I'll checkout the ones on a stick as well!

I found these: https://a.co/d/5tJANyt

Would you trust them? From my understanding they're just the off-brand version of a magic eraser.

Thank you again for the recommendations!

Yes, I would bet that those are the same as the branded Magic Erasers :)

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I’m cleaning what at likely tough calcium carbonate deposits off a dry tank. Do folks think these could work, and if so, wet or dry, or am I better off trying to use something like CLR?

 

[Fish Fan]

I’m cleaning what at likely tough calcium carbonate deposits off a dry tank. Do folks think these could work, and if so, wet or dry, or am I better off trying to use something like CLR?

Randy, they are not the most durable things, I think trying to use them on dry calcium they may deteriorate quickly. I think they may work best wet and for more lighter duty jobs.

For a dry tank and calcium, I think you're best with the CLR product. Have you considered filling the tank with fresh water, adding citric acid and a pump, and letting it "cook" for 12-24 hours? Typically, this cleans tanks up nicely without a lot of elbow grease :-)

Good luck!

 

[tobster]

I bought the cheap ones at dollar store and they work great. Takes algae right off.
Haven’t scraped my glass in more than a week by using the eraser every day or two.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

Randy, they are not the most durable things, I think trying to use them on dry calcium they may deteriorate quickly. I think they may work best wet and for more lighter duty jobs.

For a dry tank and calcium, I think you're best with the CLR product. Have you considered filling the tank with fresh water, adding citric acid and a pump, and letting it "cook" for 12-24 hours? Typically, this cleans tanks up nicely without a lot of elbow grease :)

Good luck!

I did that already. Removed a lot, but not the thin cloudy stuff. Razor blade, windex, even a scrubby pad in a corner. Nada. I may have to try stronger acid.

 

[Crabs+Shrimps-69]

I just use a kitchen sponge (without soap and once I use it for the fish tank it stops getting used for food) for most algae.
When I need to scrape coralline I use one of those magnetic scrapers.

 

[Fish Fan]

I did that already. Removed a lot, but not the thin cloudy stuff. Razor blade, windex, even a scrubby pad in a corner. Nada. I may have to try stronger acid.

I hate to say, that I have run across tanks that simply have this haze that nothing seems to remove. The one thing I'll say is that it tends to look less noticeable when the tank is full. I hope that's not the case here; good luck!

 

[Miami Reef]

Does it look like this?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cleaning-white-haze-off-of-glass.736654/

 

[Fish Fan]

Does it look like this?

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/cleaning-white-haze-off-of-glass.736654/

That's the stuff, and I've had it on standard non Starfire tanks too. Is there any hope? Agreed, it doesn't look as bad when filled, but still....

 

[Miami Reef]

That's the stuff, and I've had it on standard non Starfire tanks too. Is there any hope? Agreed, it doesn't look as bad when filled, but still....

I don’t have much experience with it, but it doesn’t seem like a calcium carbonate issue. I believe the glass needs to be polished, but I’m not an expert.

 

[Fish Fan]

I don’t have much experience with it, but it doesn’t seem like a calcium carbonate issue. I believe the glass needs to be polished, but I’m not an expert.

That's what I think too.

 

[BryanM]

I'm looking for the best sponges to clean the inside glass panels with the lowest risk of scratching the glass. I have an Innovative Marine tank if that makes any difference in glass type. I've read that melamine sponges should be safe (and can buy a pack of 100 for less than $10 on Amazon), but want to confirm whether that's true or not? I have read some claims that this type of sponge can also make micro scratches?

What is your preferred sponge to gently clean the glass?

Magic eraser, just make sure its the original, no products/scents/etc.

It really is magic.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

This is what it looks like. It is not uniform across the surface, and is more around the edges. The middle of the pane of glass is fine.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

It is much less visible when wet, but I’d like to do what I can before I add water.

 

[Mels_Reef]

I did that already. Removed a lot, but not the thin cloudy stuff. Razor blade, windex, even a scrubby pad in a corner. Nada. I may have to try stronger acid.

Yep, muriatic acid will melt all the deposits. Obviously you just need to use great caution and in a well ventilated area. I’ve used it several times and it takes away all the elbow grease

 

[Miami Reef]

I was going to suggest muriatic acid, too. If it is calcium carbonate or hard water deposits, that should easily remove it.