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[dhirugalani]

I am about to use my old 48x18x18 tropical freshwater tank to a tropical marine tank.
How do I clean my tank? I have used copper based treatments for the freshwater tank. Would a good wash with tap water be enough or do I need some neutralising solution to wash the tank. at present there is a lot of hard water calcium deposits. Do i just scrape it off?

Any advise would be welcome.

[AF Founder]

I am about to use my old 48x18x18 tropical freshwater tank to a tropical marine tank.
How do I clean my tank? I have used copper based treatments for the freshwater tank. Would a good wash with tap water be enough or do I need some neutralising solution to wash the tank. at present there is a lot of hard water calcium deposits. Do i just scrape it off?

Any advise would be welcome.

Use a mild acid to get rid of the calcium deposits, and wash thoroughly. that should do it.

[dhirugalani]

Thanky you for your answer. The mild acid would take care of calcium but will it also take care any copper that may have bleached into silicone jointing compounds. At present the silicone in my tank is all very bluish.
I have read in various news forums that if old tanks were treated with copper, this could cause problems in future.

[AF Founder]

Thanky you for your answer. The mild acid would take care of calcium but will it also take care any copper that may have bleached into silicone jointing compounds. At present the silicone in my tank is all very bluish.
I have read in various news forums that if old tanks were treated with copper, this could cause problems in future.

Not enough in the silicone to matter, most copper precipitated into the calcium that you will be removing. The copper ion is very unstable and precipitates readily.