I am being told by supplier that I must not use "Windex" on the outside on my tank but ONLY Aquarium Clean. A sales-pitch or fact? PLease let me know
James1945

I use it on mine.But I spray the paper towel down with the windex instead of spraying the glass.Just dont get any in the tank and your fine.Also make sure your maintenance is done on the tank before,just so you dont have cleaner on your hands.

__________________
http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

As long as it doesn't get in the tank, you're good to go.

__________________

That's exactly what I do. I tried just using plain water but it did not clean and left streaks. The two points majera1 made are good and the second one, don't have cleaner on your hands, is critical. That is also true for anything you do before putting your hands in the water.

I rinse my arms up to my elbows with plain water, and rinse them good, before I let my fingertips get into that valuable water. I even worry about my wife spraying cleaners on the floor as the air pump may suck that up and into the water. So...I put the air pumps up high.

Geez, my den is starting to look like the aquarium room at the Memphis zoo. But that's not saying so much. Last time I was there I wanted to help them out because they are doing some really wrong stuff on the freshwater side. I somehow doubt they want my advice or help though. I may try anyway.

I decided to set up the 20g fry tank in here too. The den is really impressive at night with all the tank lights on and all other lights off. Sometimes when I wake in the middle of the night, I'll come in here and just sit and watch. Some fish sleep, some don't. My Clowns for sure do. They'll get on top of a rock, drift off to sleep and nearly fall off. I wonder if they dream and if so, of what. (speaking of drifting, I am bad about thread drift. I'll try to do better)

__________________
60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

I don't use any chemicals at all. I actually have about a dozen microfiber cloths that I use for tank maintenance, weather it be drying my hands off or whatever, and I use one that's moist to wipe the glass down, and then grab a fresh dry one and quickly wipe the glass down with that. It leaves the glass completely spot and streak free, and I'm using nothing more than tank water

__________________


My 30 gallon planted freshwater - CONSTANTLY CHANGING

What are these microfiber cloths you mention? Where can I get some and are they like the ones used to wipe cars off after a wash?

__________________
60g tall, all artificial plants, Rainbow tank; 55g for African Cichlids. 20g long for fry; 20g hex, 2 black Angels at my desk; 10g planted, with 50 Molly fry; 10 gal, 2x 13w cfl lightning, planted; 2g hex for "Buddy the Betta"; Wanting a 200g +, MTS getting bad.

I have a few too and clean my tank glass with it when I don't feel like looking for a bottle of windex. You can probably find some at Target/Walmart for less than a dollar. They're really nice.

__________________

that's exactly what they're meant for

I buy a new pack of 6 or so every few months from any local auto parts store. I wash and reuse them, but they don't ever make it into the actual tank, so washer soap doesn't concern me

__________________


My 30 gallon planted freshwater - CONSTANTLY CHANGING

I use the microfiber cloths as well they do such a nice job on cleaning the glass without the need of chemicals, i also use one thats moist and a dry one to wipe of anything left, always streak free finish, im a bit paranoid getting chemicals into the water if i were to use a windex or alike product

__________________
"Just Keep Swimming Just Keep Swimming Swimming Swimming"

I also use Spryway glass cleaner when water-spots won't come off the glass.... i comes in a can and is Ammonia free

You can also use vinegar water mix in a spray bottle.
As you have learned from everybody, make sure nothing gets in the tank.
If your cleaning the glass on top of the tank, use a new and rinsed clean sponge, you can dip it in the tank and wipe the glass off. Or pull off and rinse in your sink.
Don't use any chems on the top glass, vinegar can be used to de-scale, then rinsed.
Just always remember that one little drop of soap, windex, or other chem. can kill out your whole tank. And that's why they use it for a sales pitch.
But if you are diligent enough not to get it everywhere you'll be ok.

__________________
"Buddha in your tank"

wait a minute

you mean you're supposed to clean the glass?

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

That way you can see your fish

Wow, if you guys need any kind of cleaner, water changes must be uncommon for your tanks. I say that because I always get water dripping down the front of the glass and I just wipe down with a towel. By the end the towel is pretty damp and I just wipe down the whole tank. Cleaner should only be needed if dirt will can't be removed without. Aside from that, nothing wrong with what others are doing but I personally just can't see ever needing it.

Well in addition to the inevitable dripping from various tank maintaince,
in my house there tends to be little hand prints, and face prints all over the glass
And everytime I wipe them off, it puts a smile on my face.

__________________
"Buddha in your tank"

but I c the fish just fine.

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden

LOL.Ben.I have kid imprints too.And my waterchanges are once a week, but I have my hands in there all the time.I do usually just use a towel to dry that off but I also windex it when Im going through the office with the bottle.

__________________
http://bountifulbettas.blogspot.com/

"Come to the dark side....we have cookies...and filters/heaters/and water changes!"

+1

LOL

And I don't have kids for hand and face prints also.

I do wipe down the glass with paper towels from time to time. But I did actually have a tank that went 3 years without even that cleanup.


my .02

__________________
fw leiden since 1979, fo salt since 1979, mixed reef 55g 2002-2009. Strong emphasis on the tank taking care of itself. Balanced with plant life, no water changes, tap water, no filters in FW. Only dosing calcium, alk, mag in marine reef tanks. http://www.aquariumforum.com/f15/my-...ods-26410.html
recent tanks (till 2009) 7 years- 10g FW leiden 7 yrs, 55g mixed reef 7, 2 yrs, 20g FW leiden, 10 g fw leiden , 29g mixed reef, current tank 55g leiden