How to remove the white stuff on the aquarium glass
Ever curious about that white stuff that's hardened to the glass of your aquarium? The opaqueness of this substance can vary depending on how "hard" your water source is, if you are using reverse osmosis water - that filter has already removed all those calcium crystals as well as many other particulates during the filtration process, however if you are using water from the city water system, also known as tap water, mineral residue -like calcium- can be left on the glass when drips of water have accumulated onto the glass and have evaporated out or dried leaving those long trails of white. In this video I share with you how I quickly deal with removing the calcium off of glass aquariums. ***DO NOT do this on acrylic/plastic aquariums***
On glass aquariums, I personally use a double - edged razor blade to clear the calcium residue off the glass. With enough pressure at the correct angle, 45 degrees tilted, the residue will have no issue scraping off. If the blade is too perpendicular to the glass surface, the razor will scratch your glass, so do be careful and have supervision if necessary. Once the majority of the thick and hard residue is removed, I like to use a paper towel soaked in vinegar to wipe down the rest of the outside of the tank-this helps remove any other remaining residue that might have been missed. As Calcium is considered base in pH, and vinegar is acidic in pH, the small chemical reaction that occurs between the two helps remove the remaining residue, and the dampness of the towel will help pick up the chalky residue left from removing the calcium with the razor.
On acrylic tanks, as scratching the surface is much easier, I skip the razor step and go straight for the paper towel in vinegar.
There have been times where I have found a client using products such as windex and other ammonia based cleaners, as as they may be effective in the bathroom; they should not be utilized for the aquarium. This is based on the knowledge that ammonia particles are small enough to fit through the glass atoms and affect the water inside the tank when sprayed. Additionally when products like windex are used on plastic or acrylic aquariums, many times the surface of that material will become hazy and reduce the clarity where sprayed. This is a big bummer for acrylic aquariums as they are so costly, and the time and effort to buff/remove the hazy aftereffects can consume a lot of time and energy from a simple mistake that can be avoided. Consult an aquarium specialist for ANY products used with the aquarium to gain a second/third opinion on how it could affect your aquarium; or learn your own lesson haha.
***GLASS TANK***
Simply use a razor blade!