Cleaning a well used glass tank?

[desertrefugee]

Well, suffering from the dreaded MTS and having insufficient funds for a new tank in the size I was seeking (50 to 75), I finally picked up a 65g, wooden stand, and pretty much all the needed hardware. Trouble is that this tank was well-used and shows lots of hard water line build-up, dried algae residue and even some scratches (luckily in the back) from previous attempts to clean it presumably.

I'll be taking my time in preparing to set this baby up, but what is the best way to clean the glass of all the unwanted deposits? I'm all ears, but don't want any chance of accidental leftover chemical tainting the water.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[Lotus]

What I did with my tanks was to fill them with water (outside) and throw in a couple of cups of vinegar and leave for a day or two. It really helps to soften the hard water deposits. Then, you can use a scraper to get rid of the deposits.

Vinegar is pretty safe, just rinse the tank afterwards. Vinegar also helps kill off any nasties.

 

[1077]

I agree with Lotus. I cleaned a well used 75 gal in just that way. Though I used a half gal of vinegar and let the tank set for a day before I attempted scrubbing. A razor blade scraper also helped.

 

[desertrefugee]

Thanks folks. Sounds like a weekend project.

I actually looked a little closer at the tank last night (mistakenly purchased it at dusk) and find that there are numerous scratches on the left side top rear where someone, apparently, got overzealous in their cleaning.

I'm pretty bummed that I missed this. Given the buildup, I suspect I may find more scratches after or during the cleanup.

My "great" deal might be a dud.

A first snag in the hobby.

 

[MadridKid]

you should definatly check for leaks while you're at it.

 

[OrangeCones]

Thanks folks. Sounds like a weekend project.

I actually looked a little closer at the tank last night (mistakenly purchased it at dusk) and find that there are numerous scratches on the left side top rear where someone, apparently, got overzealous in their cleaning.

I'm pretty bummed that I missed this. Given the buildup, I suspect I may find more scratches after or during the cleanup.

My "great" deal might be a dud.

A first snag in the hobby.

Toothpaste can be used if the scratches are not too deep. A guy I know that does maintainance on larger aquariums (200+ gallons) at businesses, uses something called cerium oxide to buff out scratches on glass.