Foggy Glass

[Nick]

So I have only had my 55g about 8 months and I have noticed over the last month or so I have noticed that up on the left hand side, the side panel of glass has a foggy area. I just cleaned it and tried everything I could think of to get it off and I wasnt even able to remove, discolor, or change it in anyway.
Its like it is inside the glass.

Any ideas?

[PaulineMi]

If you have hard water and the "foggy" stuff is right at the water line it may be calcium build up.  I have it on the water line area of the glass of my 55 also.  It's the only tank that get this way.  It's also the only tank without a cover so there may be a connection. Looking forward to responses to your question because I cannot remove it....at least not while there are fish, plants, etc in the tank.  Scraping and scrubbing have not worked.

[Nick]

I read that it does have something to do with the hard water and it actually becomes etched into the glass and the only way to remove it is to soak a paper towel in vinegar and stick it on the spot and let it set.

I find it very weird that over the better half of a decade I have never had this problem and have always had hard water.

Also curious how it is both on 55 gallon tanks. More than likely coincidence but still interesting.

[Ron]

Calcium build-up can be removed with a mild acid like lemon juice.

I bought a 100 gallon that needed some cleaning once. After cleaning it up, I noticed some hazy portions. Upon closer inspection it was an image of a previous tank background that had become ghosted onto the tank. Short of something really strong like battery acid, it's not coming out. Now I just make sure that side is always the "back" of the tank whenever I move it.

[staples2485]

It is for sure that mount pleasant water when i used to live there and ran like 10 tanks i had the same problem! the lemon juice or vinegar both work.

[gmaschke]

Never heard that lemon juice works.   I like that better than vinegar odor.

[Nick]

It is for sure that mount pleasant water

Well water. Not city. but still really hard.

Funny that its only the one tank though. And the others have been up 2x as long.

I might end up putting all those fish in my new tank after its up and running and ill give the vinegar or lemon juice a shot. Thanks guys.