Best Way To Clean Old Tank?

[mattlee]

i have just been given a free tank but the previous owner scratched the inside of the tank somehow and has used glass polishing stuff to try to get them out. i think it must have been like a paste type glass cleaner. the tank is clean its not visible but dont want to put anything in it until i know its properly clean.
what would be the best thing to use to give it a real deep clean and get any paste left out?
thanks, Matt

 

[Leila2]

i have just been given a free tank but the previous owner scratched the inside of the tank somehow and has used glass polishing stuff to try to get them out. i think it must have been like a paste type glass cleaner. the tank is clean its not visible but dont want to put anything in it until i know its properly clean.
what would be the best thing to use to give it a real deep clean and get any paste left out?
thanks, Matt

The biggest danger with getting an old/second hand tank is that the previous owner has cleaned it out with a substance that kills your fish. It would be better to get one in a dirty state - ie old algae etc. The one you have got would need a lot of rising most likely. I cleaned a 2nd hand tank I bought with some special wipes (by Tetra or something) that I got at the pet store and which are designed for aquariums. They probably had vinegar as a major ingredient. At least you can relax if that's all you used to clean it - or just water on a clean microfibre cloth would be okay.

Watch out that the scratch isn't a weak point where the glass will break.