I recently purchased a used 110 gallon glass aquarium which had been dry for the last 3 years. I leak tested it for a full 10 days and to my surprise, it did not leak.
After leak testing, and at the advice of knowledgeable MFK members, I used a 10:1 ratio of white vinegar/clear water and a couple hardbacked razor blades to remove calcified hard water deposits (a white powdery looking substance) on the inside of the aquarium. Thorough rinsing and drying with clean towels, then followed this process. When these steps had been complete, I noticed a nightmare of seemingly translucent hard water marks remaining visibly on the inside, somewhere around the top 6 to 10 inches, where the white powdery substance had been. It reminds me of obstinate dirty bath tub rings.
Though these marks seem to be somewhat translucent, they do not disappear when the tank is refilled with fresh water. I repeated the cleaning process a second time, only using full strength white vinegar and the results remained the same. I took my fingers and felt where these water marks are and they feel smooth to the touch. My question addresses these translucent water marks. Is it possible to remove these translucent watermarks and if it is, how is it accomplished? Or is this an unsolvable issue? I have the will and determination. It's the "way" of the will I'm struggling with.
I wish I had an answer for my wife. She says there has to be a way to have these removed. I'm no chemist, who may be able to come up with plausible resolution using other non-toxic liquids. But I'm out of answers, and yet I continue to search for one. Not just for me, but for her as well. Not because she hounds me, but because I love her. She enjoys being active with me in my hobbies and I really love her being there with me. What about using non-detergent ammonia? That stuff you can purchase that is about 17% pure ammonia? Now there's a concept that might work ... on second thought ... strong ammonia fumes ... even with being outdoors and a strong wind... hmmm.
So what do guys and gals think? Did I miss something on the way to the FORUM? Did I leave out a step in the cleaning process? Do I need to fill my tank up with 110 gallons of vinegar and let it soak for a week? Is this water mark removal a do-able thing or not?
After leak testing, and at the advice of knowledgeable MFK members, I used a 10:1 ratio of white vinegar/clear water and a couple hardbacked razor blades to remove calcified hard water deposits (a white powdery looking substance) on the inside of the aquarium. Thorough rinsing and drying with clean towels, then followed this process. When these steps had been complete, I noticed a nightmare of seemingly translucent hard water marks remaining visibly on the inside, somewhere around the top 6 to 10 inches, where the white powdery substance had been. It reminds me of obstinate dirty bath tub rings.
Though these marks seem to be somewhat translucent, they do not disappear when the tank is refilled with fresh water. I repeated the cleaning process a second time, only using full strength white vinegar and the results remained the same. I took my fingers and felt where these water marks are and they feel smooth to the touch. My question addresses these translucent water marks. Is it possible to remove these translucent watermarks and if it is, how is it accomplished? Or is this an unsolvable issue? I have the will and determination. It's the "way" of the will I'm struggling with.
I wish I had an answer for my wife. She says there has to be a way to have these removed. I'm no chemist, who may be able to come up with plausible resolution using other non-toxic liquids. But I'm out of answers, and yet I continue to search for one. Not just for me, but for her as well. Not because she hounds me, but because I love her. She enjoys being active with me in my hobbies and I really love her being there with me. What about using non-detergent ammonia? That stuff you can purchase that is about 17% pure ammonia? Now there's a concept that might work ... on second thought ... strong ammonia fumes ... even with being outdoors and a strong wind... hmmm.
So what do guys and gals think? Did I miss something on the way to the FORUM? Did I leave out a step in the cleaning process? Do I need to fill my tank up with 110 gallons of vinegar and let it soak for a week? Is this water mark removal a do-able thing or not?
