CLEAN GLASS AT LAST!!!!!

Tim F · #1 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 01:56 AM

Several years ago I was given an aquarium that had severe hard water stains. I mean it was tough to look through. This tank had literally sat half full in someone’s garage until all of the water had evaporated. But I figured that I could make it presentable by using some of my standard tricks (like vinegar). Well, this ended up being tougher than I thought. I wiped, scrubbed, and ultimately used a few things that I would not recommend (CLR and much harsher), considering what this tank would soon become home to. I never did get the glass very clear, but I made it into a viv anyway.

Fast-forward a few years (to a couple of days ago). The tank is well planted with happy inhabitants, very stable and has been for a couple of years. But when I looked at the nice clear glass of my other vivs, I began to think about breaking this one down.

So this past weekend, I was cleaning the water stained leaves of an orchid that I had just purchased using freshly- squeezed lemon juice. I’ve had done this for years to clean stained, thick-leaved plants that I acquire from careless nurseries. Then it hit me! I have no idea why I didn’t try this before!

I dipped a cotton ball into the bowl of lemon juice, squeezed out the excess, and wiped the inside of the still badly stained viv, and then I wiped it with a moist paper towel and then a dry one. Guess what?

It #@*! SPARKLES!!!

A lot of you may have already known about this, but for those who didn’t, I hope it helps!

JL-Exotics · #2 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 02:07 AM

Are you kidding me?? I've been scrubbing with vinegar all this time when I have a lemon tree 6 feet from my back door!?

As soon as I get home I'll put this one to the test... thanks for sharing!

kyle1745 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 02:14 AM

Please post more results as I have 2-3 tanks I would love to try this. Does it have to be fresh?

Steve · #4 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 02:24 AM

I managed to kill my lemon tree.. or more to the point, the Nevada desert did.. but lemon juce isn't exactly the hardest thing to find in a store (i'll ask my wife, she'll know where it is).

What a great tip.. purely organic too.

Nice one... thanks

Steve

#5 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 02:59 AM

Thanks for the tip, I'll be trying it out

#6 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 03:31 AM

oh man this works!

I just tried it but with out fresh lemons I just used the sutff in a bottle and it worked awesome! completly clear and it smell like lemons!!!

but I tried it on my leopard gecko tanks my vivs arnt that dirty yet...

Tim F · #7 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 03:32 AM

Kyle,

I don't know if the lemons have to be fresh, it's just what I've been using on plants. But it really takes very little. The juice from just a wedge of a very ripe lemon was more than enough to clean the front of a standard 55 gal (18"x48"x12), and you certainly can't beat the price!

I will add that I make sure not to have it dripping down the glass, and only apply what can be controlled with a cotton ball. I'd rather not have lemonade water features, and I don't want the frogs to come in contact with it.

Lukeomelas · #8 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 04:07 AM

The other thing that works really good for removing hard water stains is Coke. It works like a charm. Not as PC as lemons, but it works great none the less.

Tim F · #9 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 04:31 AM

Good to know!

JL-Exotics · #10 (**permalink**) 06-14-2006, 04:41 AM

Tim, you're a genius!

As I walked into the house a grabbed a lemon off the tree, cut it in half, and made the horribly encrusted top 6" of my turtle tank spotless in about 20 seconds. Amazing!

I had been agonizing all week about how I was going to tackle the mineral build-up... Thanks Tim!