Cleaning Hard Water / Calcium Stains???

What's the best thing to use to clean Hard Water / Calcium stains off a glass aquarium???

Is CLR safe???
You can use to clean coffee pots

I have a tank that's been outside / Used to propagate plants in etc. & so on
&
It has some Seriously Major stains

I already tried dish soap vinegar & rubbing alcohol
But none of them even made a dent

Want to use the tank for a centipede so it has to be something safe

Any suggestions will be greatly appreciated

Thanx.....

well vinegar works it takes a wiel.. sometimes you have to let it sit on the spot for a wiel [or on sponge over area] . i know for a fact however you say its an aquarium and wont come out. so its very possibly water ETCHED which means you'll need a single sided razor blade...

A decorators paint stripper would be suitable to get the worst of it off. They have a decent length handle and a 4" blade pyros suggestion with the vinegar is a good one. A bit of elbow grease also.

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Acids, as vinegar, acetic acid, will slowly dissolve calcium. Upping the strength of the acid makes it dissolve faster. Just keep in mind it takes time. A thick calcium deposit and household vinegar can take dozens of applications to fully dissolve. Glacial Acetic acid vs a thin calcium film would dissolve in a few minutes to a half hour. You can also use oxalic acid.

BEWARE of scrubbing. Calcium crystals make a superb abrasive. You may not even notice them in a solution as an acid bath but the glass will get severely crazed.

Agree with vinegar (seems safest) but I find it works more effectively (longer) if you saturate a cloth with vinegar and place over the area. May have to do each enclosure side for a night -- saturated cloth allows vinegar to sit on area much longer sans evaporation.

Every time I try scrubbing something, I usually scratch it.

Ellenantula said:

Agree with vinegar (seems safest) but I find it works more effectively (longer) if you saturate a cloth with vinegar and place over the area. May have to do each enclosure side for a night -- saturated cloth allows vinegar to sit on area much longer sans evaporation.

Every time I try scrubbing something, I usually scratch it.

Click to expand...

Good idea. Also prevents that garbage residue if the acid dries. Best is to give the glass a bath but that's out of the question with an aquarium. Also using a hose-water jet to rinse instead of wiping.

Thanx For The Replies
Appreciate It

But just finished buying everything I needed & getting the lid made & all & was antsy to get every thing together & set up / Sure you all know how that goes / LOL
Could have probably done a better job on cleaning the tank but did at least good enough job to make me happy

Have some pics of the tank posted at
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/sho...namese-Pedes-New-Set-Up&p=2394500#post2394500

Thanx Again

---------- Post added 07-15-2015 at 11:52 PM ----------

Thanx For The Replies
Appreciate It

But just finished buying everything I needed & getting the lid made & all & was antsy to get every thing together & set up / Sure you all know how that goes / LOL
Could have probably done a better job on cleaning the tank but did at least good enough job to make me happy

Have some pics of the tank posted at
http://www.arachnoboards.com/ab/sho...namese-Pedes-New-Set-Up&p=2394500#post2394500

Thanx Again