Need Advice - How to clean a dirty (empty) tank

[frankandmaura]

Hey all...I am finally getting to cleaning my 125 gal. It has been empty for about 3 months, but I never got the sand out or cleaned it.

So...I got all the sand out this morning and I am ready to clean, but I am not sure what I need to do exactly.

Do I fill it and scrub it that way, or do I just wet everything and use a bucket filled with vinegar water to scrub everything?

What mixture do I use for the vinegar/water mix?

Anything else I need to know??

Thanks!

Frank

[Mel13anie]

I just cleaned my dirty tank today and used a clean magic eraser. It is made for kitchen cleaning and seemed to get all the crud off in no time.

[Scruffys Catch]

I would just wet everything and use a bucket filled with vinegar water to scrub everything
But I don't know the vinegar/water rasheo

[frankandmaura]

Hmm...isn't that going to leave some chemicals in the tank?!? Did you have the tank full?

[DarthOcellaris]

I'd use straight vinegar and a new scrub-sponge ( the one with a scrub pad on it )/

Let the vinegar soak into the grime real well and you'll have no problem.

I'd also bust out a single edge razor blade to go over the glass a little

[Scruffys Catch]

Originally Posted by Mel13anie

I just cleaned my dirty tank today and used a clean magic eraser. It is made for kitchen cleaning and seemed to get all the crud off in no time.

What chemicals are used in the magic eraser?

[frankandmaura]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I'd use straight vinegar and a new scrub-sponge ( the one with a scrub pad on it )/

Let the vinegar soak into the grime real well and you'll have no problem.

I'd also bust out a single edge razor blade to go over the glass a little

After I let it soak and I scrub it...then just rinse with regular water and clean it out again?

[Scruffys Catch]

I have put the vinegar in a spray bottal and sprayed it on the tank then took a Pampered Chef Nylon Pan Scraper and scraped the stuff off. That works really well.

[Scruffys Catch]

Originally Posted by frankandmaura

After I let it soak and I scrub it...then just rinse with regular water and clean it out again?

That is what I would do

[DarthOcellaris]

Originally Posted by Scruffys Catch

That is what I would do

yup Witha tank that large and heavy, You'll probably expidite things by using a shop vac along the way

[Fat Tony]

i do it the easy way... set the tank on a level surface (i use the outside edge of the deck as it has a lot of supports) fill it up with freshwater out of the hose, pour in gallon or 2 of vinegar and let it set for 5-6 hours. then use a scrubbing sponge and only the very stubborn stuff needs to be scrubbed, but mostly it will all just wipe off. drain the tank, rinse it out and use a new sponge/wrag with straight vinegar to wipe out any remaining residue, then rinse again

[Doug1]

Originally Posted by Fat Tony

i do it the easy way... set the tank on a level surface (i use the outside edge of the deck as it has a lot of supports) fill it up with freshwater out of the hose, pour in gallon or 2 of vinegar and let it set for 5-6 hours. then use a scrubbing sponge and only the very stubborn stuff needs to be scrubbed, but mostly it will all justwife off. drain the tank, rinse it out and use a new sponge/wrag with straight vinegar to wipe out any remaining residue, then rinse again

I love that it just wifes off

[know-it-all]

vinigear/water and elbow grease is the best way IMO

or you could leave it as is and tell everyone it's Retro

[DarthOcellaris]

You could do what Tony suggested ( except Wifing off ) and also run your powerheads and heaters so they get clean too. Have fun moving that heavy mother though.

[Loverotties]

Originally Posted by DarthOcellaris

I'd use straight vinegar and a new scrub-sponge ( the one with a scrub pad on it )/

Let the vinegar soak into the grime real well and you'll have no problem.

I'd also bust out a single edge razor blade to go over the glass a little

That's how I'd do it!