# Cleaning an Aquarium **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [March 30, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275 "2008-03-30T15:18:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/1 "2008-03-30T15:18:01Z")
Today I intend to clean up a long-neglected aquarium. Everything is being tossed because I don’t know that it’s safe to reintroduce this stuff to new fish even after a scrubbing. My question is, what’s the “safest” way to get an aquarium clean, while retaining its usefulness in the future? I am assuming you can’t use detergents, but what about vinegar to get at the green gunk and the water stains? I am hoping to have answers quick before I run errands this afternoon. Can anyone help me on this? ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 4:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/2 "2008-03-30T16:20:22Z")
I always used sea salt when cleaning my aquariums. Works as a good scrub and even if traces remain, salt isn’t bad for fish. But I didn’t have problems with discolored sealant where I’d be afraid to scrub to vigorously. ---
**Author:** ![3acresandatruck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/3/e79b87/32.png) [@3acresandatruck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/3acresandatruck)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/3 "2008-03-30T16:23:18Z")
The green stuff’s just algae. I’d go after it with the tank full of water, using a ScotchBrite and an easy touch. Let it soak an hour before you go after it. If any of the mineral deposits won’t come off easily with the ScotchBrite, then I’d agree with your plan of using vinegar on it in an emptied tank; just rinse a few times afterwards. I imagine you could even clean your accessories, but it might take more time and effort than you think it’s worth. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/4 "2008-03-30T16:53:28Z")
Vinegar works, especially if you have hard water and calcium deposits, for the really nasty scuzz, you could use straight ammonia, no dyes, colors or anything, just ammonia, _OR_ chlorine bleach the last two of these chemicals are encountered in aquaria anyway and there are chemicals designed to counteract them, but as long as you rinse the tank and accessories well, you should be fine _NEVER_ use soap, it’s toxic to fish, and they are very sensitive to even residual amounts ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/5 "2008-03-30T17:23:28Z")
Thanks guys! ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/6 "2008-03-30T21:38:40Z")
You’ve probably already done it, but just keep in mind that if it’s an acrylic aquarium instead of glass, it can be pretty easy to scratch the acrylic. It’s probably glass, though. ---
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2008, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cleaning-an-aquarium/443275/7 "2008-03-30T21:53:48Z")
Yes, it glass, but thanks. And no, I haven’t done it yet. Intended to do it the second I submit this!