Tools for Cleaning Acrylic Tanks

Acrylic aquariums are an alternative to the typical glass aquariums. They're lighter and stronger than glass, but, unfortunately, are more prone to scratches and removing mineral stains or algae from them is difficult. There are tools and materials you can use to safely clean an acrylic aquarium. Just make sure the aquarium is empty and dry before you begin.

  1. Hair Dryer

    • A hair dryer can be used to heat up mineral formations that stain tanks, like calcium buildups or crusting sand. The heat will dry the moisture holding the minerals together, loosening them for easy removal.

    Vacuum Cleaner

    • A vacuum cleaner can be used on any loose sand, gravel or mineral particles that fall to the bottom of the tank. Vacuums can be especially useful for those particles that get stuck in corners.

    Putty Knife

    • A putty knife can scrape off mineral residue and algae. You can also use a plastic paint scraper or old credit card. Never use a metal knife or Brillo pad. Scratches on acrylic can be nearly impossible to remove.

    Bleach

    • Bleach can be an effective solvent to remove residue or algae that failed to come off with scraping. Fill the tank with 1 cup of bleach per 20 gallons of water. Let the bleach soak in the tank for 48 hours and then empty and rinse it out with fresh water, preferably using a hose outdoors. Make sure to remove any bleach residue before setting the tank up for your fish. The bleach will kill and remove any algae or mold. You can then wipe with a cotton cloth once you've emptied the aquarium.

    Established Tanks

    • If you need to clean a tank that already has fish, then use a plastic scraper or putty knife to remove as much algae as possible and kick off any residue. Chemical residues, usually calcium or salt, will dissolve in the water and be removed by the filter. Algae particles will get sucked up by the filter. Never use chemicals to clean the aquarium walls if there are already fish in the tank.