Fish lovers often ask us a very common question, “Can I use Vinegar to clean my fish tank?” “Is it safe for my fish?” The straight forward answer to this question is yes you can. But, you need to use it properly. Before going to use vinegar for cleaning a fish tank for the first time, you have to know which type of vinegar is safe and suitable for cleaning the fish tank. Well, we mostly see, two types of vinegar are most commonly used for aquarium cleaning. They are Distilled white vinegar and Mild vinegar.
Distilled white vinegar is best for removing glass stains and hard water stains. They are very safe and efficient for this type of cleaning task for your aquarium. The acidity level of distilled white vinegar is very low and safe for any type of fishes. It contains mild acid like acetic acid which breaks down the accumulated calcium and hard water stains in the aquarium glass.
On the other hand, a mild solution of vinegar is usually used to clean the decorative elements of your fish tank and lowering the PH level of water.
Today we will teach you how to clean a fish tank with vinegar in a proper way.
Let’s start….
How to Clean a Fish Tank glass with Vinegar?
Hard water stains are very challenging to remove. It creates a white residual from around the top of your aquarium glass and day by day they become hard. Minerals exist in hard water is the main reason why this type of stains accumulated in a fish tank. Don’t need to be scared! The good news is that distilled white vinegar comes very handy cleaning stain and dirt gathered around you fish tank glass. It is the cheapest and most effective solution to this problem.
Now, we will discuss the step by step procedure of cleaning the fish tank with vinegar.
Step 1. Relocate You Tank Fishes to A Suitable Place
First of all, find a proper place to relocate your aquarium fishes. Best would be if you place them in a fish holding tank. In case you don’t have a separate fish holding tank, you can use a big size bucket. Whatever you choose for keeping these fishes, you should remember that you may need half an hour to an hour to finish this cleaning task. So, you should find a suitable place where they will be safe for at least an hour.
Step 2. Fill The Tank with Vinegar
Next, you have to fill your fish tank with white vinegar. You must fill it at least half of your tank with this chemical. After that, set it for a minimum of half an hour.
Step 3. Dump the Vinegar
After spending 30 minutes, afterward, dump the vinegar out from the tank.
Step 4. Remove the Buildup from The Tank Side
You can use a razor or algae scraper for this step. Scrap the side of the tank with it until you have removed the algae and calcium buildup.
Step 5. Cleaning Inside the Tank
Take a clean but dumped soft cloth and wipe inside of your tank thoroughly. A moist sponge is also perfect for this kind of cleaning up but you have to use a newer one for this. You will find some buildup like dirt and grime which may need some special treatment. You pay close attention and care for those spot(s).
Step 6. Replacing the Fish
After you have removed all the dirt and grime from your aquarium, you need to wash the whole fish tank before you replace your fishes inside the tank. Wash the full tank with clean water at least twice. After that, replace your pet fishes inside the tank. You will find your aquarium new again.
FAQs
How to clean aquarium decorative plants with vinegar?
Vinegar is very safe to use cleaning decorative plants of a fish tank. The complete procedure is very easy to do so. Here are the steps you have to follow:
First, you have to bring the decorative plants out from your fish tank without harming fishes. After that, take a small size bucket or bowl (it completely depends on the size of your decorative plants) and pour some vinegar into it. Soak the plants inside the bucket for 5 minutes and then wipe out the plant with clean water. That’s it. It will be more effective cleaning if you use a toothbrush for this cleaning task instead of dipping the plant inside the bucket only. Just dip the brush inside vinegar and brush the plant thoroughly until it becomes clear.
How much vinegar should I use to clean the fish tank?
You can use straight white vinegar without mixing it up. But, if you have a problem working into vinegar smell than you can probably use it by mixing up with clean drinking water. You can mix up water and vinegar 1:1 ratio. But, mix at least half a gallon of water to make the solution.
Can you use apple cider vinegar?
We often see apple cider vinegar is used for weight loss purposes. But, they are also a very good cleaning substance. So, you can use it for cleaning your fish tank.
Will Vinegar Kill Your Fish?
Probably, there is a little chance that it could kill your aquarium fish if you use it without diluting. Too much use of vinegar may turn your aquarium water more acidic that can harm your fishes. Never use vinegar for cleaning your protein skimmer, canister filter or HOB filter.
What other equipment can be cleaned using Vinegar?
You can use vinegar for cleaning the below equipment:
- Heaters
- Thermometers
- Hoses and Pipes
- Filter Intakes
- Aquarium Covers
- Powerheads and Power Pumps
Wrap Up
You have learned how to use vinegar cleaning a fish tank. Now, it’s your turn to implement it practically. But, whatever you do, never use soap to clean the aquarium. Since they are very difficult to remove from the glass. You may need to wash 5=6 times to make the fish tank completely soap-free. A little size soap or foam of soap can be deadly for any kind of fishes.
We also don’t recommend to use any kind of glass cleaner for this cleaning process as they are very toxic and harmful for fishes. But you can use a glass cleaner for cleaning the outer glass of your fish tank.
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