How to Clean Acrylic Aquariums

Acrylic aquariums have crystal-clear sides that are both attractive and strong. Acrylic aquariums require special care during cleaning because most standard cleansers contain chemicals that could damage or cloud the acrylic. Acrylic is porous and should only be cleaned with an acrylic-friendly cleanser, like bleach. Once you know which cleansers are safe, cleaning your acrylic aquarium is easy.

Things You'll Need

  • Rubber gloves
  • Bleach
  • Water
  • Soft cloth
  • Putty knife or credit card
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Mix one part bleach with 20 parts water in the tank, filling the aquarium with the mixture. Let the tank sit for a few minutes.

    • 2

      Dump out most of the mixture, leaving about an inch or so in the bottom of the tank. Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and dip a soft cloth into the liquid. Gently rub down the sides of the tank, using circular motions to remove any caked-on debris. Chip off any hard-to-remove clumps with the putty knife or credit card.

    • 3

      Dump the rest of the mixture and buff the inside of the tank dry with another soft cloth.