Cleaning new aquarium

[demonbarber09]

Hello so I’m mew to this hobby. I recently picked up a120 gallon aquarium on Facebook marketplace. The tank needs cleaning but I’m not sure how I could clean the overflow or what’s the best way of cleaning it. Please help

 

[Kayanarka]

I have seen people recommend vinegar or citric acids and soaking, and tooth brushes.

 

[Jekyl]

Vinegar soak, followed by bleach, followed by water. I think it's 3 days for each with rinsing in between

 

[AnemoneFan]

Just use water and a brush..they sell long pipe cleaners and drinking glass cleaners on amazon for $8. That looks like coralline algae so that means the prior person didn’t have a lid on the overflow and light was getting in Razor blade may help. Just scrape off the loose stuff the rest will stay like that unless you scrape it off with a razor blade

 

[James_O]

Vinegar, soak if possible. Rinse, and repeat.

 

[MONTANTK]

Vinegar for Muriatic Acid would do the trick. Just let it soak for a few days and all the junk will fall right off

 

[Woodyman]

Vinegar for Muriatic Acid would do the trick. Just let it soak for a few days and all the junk will fall right off

If you go with vinegar go for the cleaning strength instead of the normal. Muriatic is easier but not quite as safe. Use proper precautions so you don't fumigate yourself or others.

 

[G Santana]

A gallon of vinegar, water and brushes.
First water and vinegar and let it soak, for calcified hard matter you may need citric acid.

That's how I cleaned my tank that had sat for 25 years.
Good luck.

 

[MONTANTK]

If you go with vinegar go for the cleaning strength instead of the normal. Muriatic is easier but not quite as safe. Use proper precautions so you don't fumigate yourself or others.

Definitely make sure you DO NOT mix it with bleach if you use muriatic acid!

 

[Jekyl]

Don't mix with vinegar either

 

[demonbarber09]

Don't mix with vinegar either

So I used citric acid to clean the sump and everything came off with ease after letting sit overnight.

 

[demonbarber09]

Just use water and a brush..they sell long pipe cleaners and drinking glass cleaners on amazon for $8. That looks like coralline algae so that means the prior person didn’t have a lid on the overflow and light was getting in Razor blade may help. Just scrape off the loose stuff the rest will stay like that unless you scrape it off with a razor blade

Thank you I’m gonna use those with citric acid I was hoping I didn’t have to take that tank outside to clean

 

[Woodyman]

So I used citric acid to clean the sump and everything came off with ease after letting sit overnight.

If you have stubborn spots you can use another round of citric or go the vinegar/muriatic route.

Citric and some scrubbing will do the job 98% of the time.

 

[demonbarber09]

If you have stubborn spots you can use another round of citric or go the vinegar/muriatic route.

Citric and some scrubbing will do the job 98% of the time.

I will try it tonight so far all the used citric acid on the skimmer and sump and it worked great no problem

 

[Woodyman]

I will try it tonight so far all the used citric acid on the skimmer and sump and it worked great no problem

Citric is the safer option and it works well. Stubborn calcium deposits or Coraline algae you may want to use vinegar. One method is to saturate a paper towel with vinegar and place it over the spot to soak. Then you can rinse it away hopefully removing the deposit.

 

[demonbarber09]

Citric is the safer option and it works well. Stubborn calcium deposits or Coraline algae you may want to use vinegar. One method is to saturate a paper towel with vinegar and place it over the spot to soak. Then you can rinse it away hopefully removing the deposit.

Hopefully it all works out good This my first time ever doing this

 

[Woodyman]

Hopefully it all works out good This my first time ever doing this

Sounds as if you have things under control! Have fun cleaning!

 

[Not an IT guy]

Also since it’s a used tank double check your seals.

 

[demonbarber09]

Also since it’s a used tank double check your seals.

It would be a good time to find out if I need to reseal it.

 

[demonbarber09]

Sounds as if you have things under control! Have fun cleaning!

I’m not looking forward to that part because I’m a bit of a perfectionist