Feather duster shell removal

[motoking_1990]

I picked up a 220 gallon yesterday and started cleaning it up today. There are dried feather duster shells stuck all over the overflows. Any tips getting it off? Pressure washer didn’t touch it.

 

[UncommonSense]

I picked up a 220 gallon yesterday and started cleaning it up today. There are dried feather duster shells stuck all over the overflows. Any tips getting it off? Pressure washer didn’t touch it.

Glass, or acrylic overflows?

If glass, a fresh razor blade gently slid at an angle along the surface works great! — just use a brand new razor as they can scratch your glass, particularly when the blade develops significant defects!

If acrylic, I’ve had my best luck using a plastic wallet card like an expired credit card/gift card/etc to scrape! — the card material is softer than the acrylic, working with a water spray or while underwater significantly reduces the risk of grit or shell material scratching the acrylic!

 

[motoking_1990]

I picked up a 220 gallon yesterday and started cleaning it up today. There are dried feather duster shells stuck all over the overflows. Any tips getting it off? Pressure washer didn’t touch it.

Glass, or acrylic overflows?

If glass, a fresh razor blade gently slid at an angle along the surface works great! — just use a brand new razor as they can scratch your glass, particularly when the blade develops significant defects!

If acrylic, I’ve had my best luck using a plastic wallet card like an expired credit card/gift card/etc to scrape! — the card material is softer than the acrylic, working with a water spray or while underwater significantly reduces the risk of grit or shell material scratching the acrylic!

This is actually either ABS or HDPE. Its textured. I guess what I was wondering is if there is something that will chemically break down the I’m assuming calcium carbonate shell.

 

[UncommonSense]

This is actually either ABS or HDPE. Its textured. I guess what I was wondering is if there is something that will chemically break down the I’m assuming calcium carbonate shell.

Many reefers here use cheap food grade powdered citric acid to make an acidic solution from tap water inside the tank, especially for dissolving off coralline algae!

— feather duster (and vermitide snail) shells are often thicker than coralline algae encrustation, though… That said, this acid soak process may take longer than expected, and/or require the periodic addition of more powdered citric acid to maintain the correct solution acidity!

 

[motoking_1990]

This is actually either ABS or HDPE. Its textured. I guess what I was wondering is if there is something that will chemically break down the I’m assuming calcium carbonate shell.

Many reefers here use cheap food grade powdered citric acid to make an acidic solution from tap water inside the tank, especially for dissolving off coralline algae!

— feather duster (and vermitide snail) shells are often thicker than coralline algae encrustation, though… That said, this acid soak process may take longer than expected, and/or require the periodic addition of more powdered citric acid to maintain the correct solution acidity!

Thanks for the help. I will give that a try.