I just got a tank/filter with calcium build-up all over the glass and filter. I soaked it for 2 days in vinegar and used the scrubby pad/razor blade, even tried lemons. I don't want to use bleach.. There must be a hobbyist out there that has a solution to my dilhema... The dried up "white" looks awful!(I'll
never understand why people breakdown a tank and don't wipe it clean while the junk is still fresh..Once it dries and calcifies, it's a nightmare to clean.)

Thanks,
fish4962

I use Fast Orange hand cleaner. Its kind of gritty but I have used it on alot of my tanks and it works great.

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Did you soak it in straight distilled vinegar, or was it in a diluted solution? Chemical cleaners will work, but they are a risk. I have used other things without problems, but my experience could be different than yours.

I've never had calcium marks that wouldn't come off after being soaked in vinegar so I'm a bit stumped. I don't think bleach would do it anyway because it's alkaline. You get industrial strength acid for cleaning off cement, it seems like that would work but it's pretty nasty stuff.

Interesting. Distilled vinegar has never failed me even on the tough jobs.

Hmmm. Lime away but I don't recommend it. Never recommend the use of chems.

Take the tank, lay it n its side, dump enough straight distilled vinegar to have a thin layer over the entire surface of the glass. Let it soak for a hour and try scrubbing. If it doesn't work soak longer. Once it comes off, rotate the tank and the vinegar.

^ yep... Thats the way to do it.