Total Beginner With Dirty Tank!

[MissT]

Hi Everyone,

Firstly, as the title suggests, I am a complete beginner so please have patience with me while I ask many many silly questions!
We have just aquired our 'new to us' tank and it is in desperate need of a clean. The glass won't be a problem, just a non-stick scourer and cool water, but the lid is covered in scale/white scum/water residue and as it's a black tank and stand it looks quite awful. I have scrubbed and scrubbed the parts of the lid that come off, but the areas that cannot be removed are also covered, as are the lights and fittings.
Is there anything I can use to get rid of this? If not, is there anything that can be 'painted' over it to disguise it? It's not very tall (1.23m) so it's all you can see when you look at it and so it doesn't look very nice.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thianks.

 

[fluttermoth]

Best remover for limescale (assuming there's no fish in the tank!) is a mix of any of these; salt, vinegar, lemon juice, hot water.

They're all easily rinsed away once you've finished, and wouldn't harm your fish if you did leave any behind. If the limescale is very bad, you might need to make a paste or soak a cloth and leave it on the scale to soak in and soften it.

Oh, forgot to say to the forum! Don't forget to check out the great articles in our beginner's resource centre (link is in my sig) which are a fantastic starting point for newcomers to the hobby

 

[MissT]

Thanks, that's really helpful to know. I've been told, and read, so much about not using anything to clean the tank other than water so that's relaxed my mind a bit!
I am working my way through the Beginners bit right now!

 

[colleen0309]

Good afternoon and welcome to the forum! Just remember, there are no silly questions, except for the ones you don't ask!

 

[phishyphil]

+1 for Vinegar and Water, Just mix in a spray bottle and spray on. Works A Treat. Warm water not cold as fluttermouth mentioned.