Slight hazing on sides of tank glass

[siege]

I have a Waterbox 50.3 AIO I picked up second-hand. After getting it a bit more cleaned up, I noticed both side panels have a bit of hazing to them, and I can see quite clearly where the powerheads were as distinctly transparent (in the case of one on each side that was obviously never moved) or more or less transparent, in the case of a couple of smaller circular spots, indicating powerheads that were added/adjusted later.

So far, I have tried using a brand new sponge with a plastic scrubby side using first white vinegar, and later, citric acid, to clean it up, but don't seem to have made even the slightest dent in it.

Does anyone maybe happen to have any experience with this? Interestingly, it's only on the sides of the tank, not apparent on the front glass at all.

 

[Steve Burton]

I've had many used tanks where it could never be removed. Fill it up you'll never see it.

 

[chaples55]

I hope for you it isn't this:

 

[siege]

I hope for you it isn't this:

Me too!

What's weird is, like I said, it's only on the sides of the tank... but I'm having a sneaking suspicion that may well be it.

 

[project1004]

If I were you and had that issue, I would try mixing Ammonia and Hydrogen Peroxide and wipe soon as the mixture starts to combust. It might remove the scare that was built.

It works for textiles but we use industrial strength and not ones from the grocery stores. Just a thought~

 

[siege]

If I were you and had that issue, I would try mixing Ammonia and Hydrogen Peroxide and wipe soon as the mixture starts to combust. It might remove the scare that was built.

It works for textiles but we use industrial strength and not ones from the grocery stores. Just a thought~

Yeah... my tank is in my office, and after 6 years of HAZWOPR training while working in the energy sector, I'm not going to risk doing something like that inside. If I didn't set myself or the house on fire, my wife would assuredly light me up if she found out I was mixing something like that indoors.

The only person in the house with hands and back strong enough to help me move the tank is my not-quite-12-year-old, and TBH I barely trust myself to move the thing off the stand and on to the carpeted floor. Not that it's that heavy, per se, just delicate, and I can't afford to replace it - moving it to the driveway for something like that probably not worth the risk, especially since I'll probably never notice it once I get it filled.

 

[project1004]

This ammonia/hydrogen peroxide mixture won’t harm you as long as you not inhaling it directly other than the fact it will smell really bad from the ammonia. You know it smells like a piss. Because you be using low strength solutions (1-3%) that will be even more safe than the industrial strength ones that are (30-35%).

So hear me out, the scales that are on the surfaces of the glass must be from the minerals in the salt water. Residues. PH of the menerals are usually 7-5. Acidic. I’m going to assume it’s even more acidic now that it’s been set dried.

We usually use acid to dissolve acid. Vice versa. We usually use alkali to dissolve alkali.
But in this case, that isn’t working. So idea is to use the mixture which will create solutions around pH of 13-14. Basically you are trying to bring back the pH on the scare back to the 7-8. So it can be wiped? Or scraped? away possibly~

It might it might not work. -.-;

 

[siege]

Ahhhh... okay that's reasonable enough.

Still not entirely certain the wife would let me get away with that in the house. That said, I know I can get RO water up to about pH 11 with soda ash.

If the goal is to get the pH to 13+, I could potentially start with soda ash until I hit its limit, and then add a small amount of lye - that should push me up there, without the ammonia odor, nor any risk of runaway reaction. Still caustic as all get out, but, I can test a small patch and see what happens. I'd have to get some lye tho, as I don't have any lyeing about

Otherwise, if that doesn't help, maybe I'll try some Meguiar’s Mirror Glaze or non-abrasive Bar Keeper's Friend before I fill the tank.

 

[project1004]

Ya, see if you can get it wiped down with high pH solution?! May need more than a wipe but it might react as is needed.