Easy way to remove A LOT of coralline algae?

[inedukated]

I am giving my old 55 gallon tank to my father, and the back is completely pink/red. He'll be using it for freshwater, so I figured I'd be nice and scrape off the coralline algae for him. So far, I've done about a square foot, and its taken about 2 hours and I've gone through 2 old credit cards.

 

Any quicker ways to remove this? tank is empty, so I can lay it on the side, if there's some sort of chemical that can quickly remove it...

 

Suggestions please!!

 

 

-Ben

[Rascal]

White vinegar.

 

4" wide razor paint scraper.

[zoozilla]

As Rascal mentioned, White Vinegar will work

 

But...

 

For very stubborn Coralline, I've been successful using Diluted Muriatic Acid. **Caution** This stuff is Extremely Caustic. It will burn and eat away skin, clothing, etc. on contact so read manufacturer's label carefully and use Extreme caution if you plan to use. I suggest using Gloves, Apron, Goggles, etc.

 

You can find this stuff at Home Depot and Lowes...

Edited February 2, 2007 by zoozilla

[Grav]

Muriatic acid?>??>?>?>???

 

Wholy crud

 

Just get a metal scraper blade & handle. I dunno $8 at any good aquarium shop. it will take you 5 min and you dont need to worry about killing yourself with the fumes

[dandy7200]

Muriatic acid?>??>?>?>???

 

 

Yep, mix 20:1 and is the best and cheapest cleaner you will find for calcium deposits. Add acid to water, never the other way. Guess what? It's reef safe as well, so no worries there, so if you ever need to lower your ph in a hurry...... One more thing, it won't damage rubber gaskets or o-rings on pumps, silicone joints etc. like vinegar will.

[Sugar Magnolia]

White vinegar and hot water, let soak and it comes right off.

[NRehman]

Rub some food on the glass and just have your dog clean the tank! (or catnip and a cat)! or keep a pet porcupine in there...

 

Scraper... make sure you use a new, sharp blade. It's cheaper if you go to HD or Lowes and get a window/paint scraper with some blades. Replace the blade often so that the blade does the work, not your arm. Now you did say it's a glass aquarium, right?

Edited February 2, 2007 by NRehman

[fry_school101]

Yep, mix 20:1 and is the best and cheapest cleaner you will find for calcium deposits. Add acid to water, never the other way. Guess what? It's reef safe as well, so no worries there, so if you ever need to lower your ph in a hurry...... One more thing, it won't damage rubber gaskets or o-rings on pumps, silicone joints etc. like vinegar will.

 

 

You're completely sure?! It won't leech into the plastic or anything? If it is safe, that would be great, but my mom killed about a hundred day old chickens a few years back because she washed plastic water cans with diluted bleach. Different product and application, but the logic is there.

[Rascal]

You're completely sure?! It won't leech into the plastic or anything?

 

It's nothing more than diluted Hydrochloric Acid. Lots of folks have used it to clean deposits off of pump parts. Works great and I've never heard of anyone having a problem after putting stuff back in the tank. Does a better job in minutes than vinegar does in hours. Only issues are safety. Splash some vinegar in your eye and it'll make you cry. Splash some of this stuff in your eye and you could be in trouble. Nothing that rubber gloves and safety goggles can't stop though. Here's a good primer on safe use/handling/disposal: http://www.naturalhandyman.com/iip/infxtra/infmur.shtm

If interested you can find in HD or Lowes -- as a concrete cleaner.

[inedukated]

I think i'll just try white vinegar. I'm broke, and dont feel like buying scrapers.

[quazi]

Ben,

 

 

 

You can get the scraper @ home depot for about $4.00. Not too bad, and the coraline will come right off. I use them on my aquarium all the time.

 

 

 

Mike

[inedukated]

White vinegar did the trick......and maxxed out credit card scrapers.

 

 

Thanks all

 

-Ben