Calcium accumulation in the aquarium makes it look ugly. It may also affect the health of your fish.
The ability to remove calcium buildup from an aquarium is a must for every aquarist.
Below I present you the simplest ways to remove calcium buildup in the aquarium.
You may have heard of one with it, just use homemade vinegar. Learn more methods below!
How to quickly remove calcium buildup in fish tank?
The easiest way to remove it is to use vinegar, lime juice or a scrubber.
In situations where calcium builds too quickly and is difficult to clean, we can use a commercially available aquarium cleaner.
If you use the appropriate methods or a combination of methods, removing white calcium stains or buildup should not be a problem for you.
Vinegar
Using vinegar is one of the best solutions. It is cheap, natural and generally reacts well with calcium bicarbonate.
Vinegar contains acetic acid which reacts with calcium and allows you to easily remove the contamination.
This method is most effective when you have an empty aquarium to clean.
Of course, you can do it if you have fish in the aquarium, but it will be a bit more difficult.
First, you need to turn off the aquarium outlet for the filters and pump. In such a situation, you relocate all the fish to another aquarium.
You drain the water from the tank and remove all filters. Make sure the biological filter media is wet because otherwise the bacteria inside will simply start to die.
Remove all kinds of objects, including plants. Remove gravel and check the bottom of the tank.
Once everything is removed, apply white vinegar to all parts of the tank. This one should be in every nook and corner of the glass.
You need to wait about 30 minutes for the acetic acid to start working with the limescale. After this time, remove excess calcium buildup using a soft sponge. The sponge should be soft enough to prevent scratching the tank wall.
After completing all the above steps, just rinse fresh water through the glass.
Make sure you rinse the entire tank thoroughly as the vinegar may harm your fish.
Razor
Hard water stains can be removed with a razor. In a situation where the vinegar solution is no longer effective, this will be a good method.
However, you must know that the blade or aquarium scraper razor blade may scratch your fish tank and damage the wall .
This method is absolutely not suitable for plexiglass or acrylic aquarium.
I used an algae scraper in my aquarium, but I couldn’t avoid scratches.
As long as you have an old aquarium, this won’t be a big problem, but you may be annoyed when you scratch a new aquarium.
Before you start scraping, it is worth rinsing the limescale with a vinegar solution. You can do this several times.
Removal with a razor will then be much easier.
Lime juice
If you don’t have vinegar in your kitchen, you can use lime or lemon juice.
Of course, these juices are not that effective, but it is still worth trying.
In the case of small limescale development, this method may be effective.
In this case, the procedure is the same as for vinegar.
First, you need to collect the appropriate amount of lemon or lime juice.
After removing all the elements from your aquarium, pour the juice onto the limescale on the glass.
After 30 minutes, we can start scrubbing tank. This procedure must be performed several times because lime juice contains much less acid than vinegar.
The use of lime or lemon juice is great because after rinsing it does not leave any leftovers on the glass, so you can immediately return your fish into the aquarium.
Aquarium cleaner
If the amount of calcium in the aquarium is too high, lemon juice or vinegar cannot cope with it, you can use a commercial aquarium cleaner.
There are many commercially available products for cleaning aquarium glass. Of course, you must use a product that is safe for our fish.
It is worth reading first product label to know if cleaner is safe for aquarium fish. Check if it is compatible for cleaning glass inside and outside.
A good choice in this case will be API SAFE & EASY Aquarium Cleaner. It is an easy-to-use agent and can be used on the inner and outer glass of the aquarium.
Cleaning in this situation depends on the agent you buy so it is worth reading the instructions when using it.
As a rule, it is enough to apply the agent to the limestone, leave it for a few minutes and then scrub the glass wall.
Baking soda and vinegar
Earlier I mentioned that it is worth using a combination of two different methods. In this case, use baking soda and vinegar, especially if you have stubborn spots.
The combination of vinegar and baking soda is a natural, non-toxic solution that will weaken hard water stains.
Alternatively, you can also use white wine to eliminate calcium deposits.
Mix vinegar with baking soda to create a paste and apply it to the limescale in the aquarium.
Use a soft sponge and remove any remaining dirt.
How to prevent calcium from accumulating on the aquarium walls?
Generally, you must first check what kind of water you use for the aquarium.
Using water directly from the tap may cause limescale to build up on the walls because it contains minerals.
Water with a low pH can effectively prevent calcium deposits. It is better to always use water that will prevent calcium from accumulating in the aquarium.
Do not use tap water
Tap water usually contains various minerals. Especially since the content of these minerals may vary depending on the region.
You should have dechlorinated water in the aquarium. Dechlorinated water does not contain fluoride, chloride and calcium bicarbonates.
A good solution is to use distilled water or water from an RO filter. For best results, use water softeners to remove all traces of minerals.
Rinse the filter timely
If you keep your filter media clean, they effectively absorb minerals from the water. Therefore, you must rinse mechanical and chemical media once a week or every two weeks.
Of course, if you don’t have a problem with your water, you can do it less often. The most important thing is to find the right way for yourself.
However, you must be careful not to rinse the biological filter. Because you can remove the beneficial bacteria and it will take another weeks for them to develop again.
Regularly cleaned filter media will effectively collect the mineral residue with calcium particles. This will prevent the formation of calcium in the aquarium.
Use an alkaline buffer
As I mentioned earlier, with a lower pH you have greater success. It is therefore worth considering using an alkaline aquarium buffer.
The alkaline buffer will keep the water pH stable. A pH in the range of 5 – 6.5 will prevent calcium bicarbonate from developing. The more acidic the water, the less likely it is to form calcium deposits.
Of course, first of all, you need to pay attention to how your fish will react to the change in pH. Many fish species tolerate low pH. However, for other fish such conditions may prove fatal.
Build an aquaponic system
Aquaponics is a method that combines breeding fish and plants at the same time. In an aquaponics system, plants benefit from fish waste and maintain the appropriate pH level in the water.
Aquaonics actually imitates what naturally occurs in ponds, lakes and streams. It uses the natural nitrogen cycle to maximize the cultivation of plants and fish.
By using the right amount of plants and the right fish, you are able to achieve excellent results. Namely, your aquarium will be healthy and you will not have a problem with calcium buildup.
What happens when a fish aquarium has too much calcium buildup?
High calcium buildup can raise the pH of the water, which means it can directly affect the health of fish.
Sudden changes in pH levels can be fatal to many species of fish.
In most cases, the pH of the water is neutral. The amount of calcium in that water should not harm you fish.
Calcium, of course, is necessary for the development of fish bones. However, too large pH fluctuations may be lethal for your fish.
Moreover, a large amount of calcium will make the aquarium look ugly. I’m sure that’s the last thing you want.
In conclusion
Now you know how to remove calcium buildup in fishtank and how to prevent its formation.
The above methods are simple to use. Prevention may be time-consuming, so please follow the above suggestions patiently.
There is no reason to panic when calcium develops in your aquarium.
By remaining calm and following simple methods, you will quickly remove calcium and make the aquarium look less like new, and your fish will enjoy health.
