Razor blades

Cory · Jan 21, 2020

How can i remove rust from razor blades from an empty glass aquarium?

I cleaned out an old 75 gallon sump. Had a little water in the bottom and left the razor blade in it. It rusted and stained the glass. I tried using vinegar for 1 hour to dissolve it. Didnt work.

Im mostly worried for tin or other metals that might poison the tank later on when i hook up my sump. Would muriatic acid dissolve it?

CuzzA · Jan 21, 2020

Cory said:
How can i remove rust from razor blades from an empty glass aquarium?

I cleaned out an old 75 gallon sump. Had a little water in the bottom and left the razor blade in it. It rusted and stained the glass. I tried using vinegar for 1 hour to dissolve it. Didnt work.

Im mostly worried for tin or other metals that might poison the tank later on when i hook up my sump. Would muriatic acid dissolve it?

You could try vinegar with peroxide or a citrus based cleaner, but for a sump, some gritty toothpaste, magic eraser or even a fine grit wet sand paper. It would leave a blemish, but remove the stain and being that it's a sump. Oh well.

Cory · Jan 21, 2020

CuzzA said:
You could try vinegar with peroxide or a citrus based cleaner, but for a sump, some gritty toothpaste, magic eraser or even a fine grit wet sand paper. It would leave a blemish, but remove the stain and being that it's a sump. Oh well.

Tried vinegar it didnt do it. Not worried about cosmetics. Just dont want metals in the water later on.

Ideally id love to fill the sump and soak it in muriatic acid or something to dissolve any metals. Would it work?

CuzzA · Jan 21, 2020

Cory said:
Tried vinegar it didnt do it. Not worried about cosmetics. Just dont want metals in the water later on.

Ideally id love to fill the sump and soak it in muriatic acid or something to dissolve any metals. Would it work?

I don't think muratic acid would be my first choice. That is going to be more effective at breaking down calcium carbonate build up. Adding peroxide to your vinegar soak might oxidize the stain. Honestly the stain will likely have no effect to a reef tank, but the quickest way to remove it would be mechanically, like wet sanding.

JimWelsh · Jan 22, 2020

Try something with oxalic acid. Barkeeper's friend has oxalic acid, I believe.

Gareth elliott · Jan 22, 2020

could try a small amount of citric acid and a heat pad on the opposite side to heat the acid slightly. Heat gun may also work if can avoid the plastic frame.

Cory · Jan 22, 2020

Ive got all these to try now! Is oxalic acid reef safe Jim? Ive got some barkeepers friend at home. What would dissolve the metals from a razor blade without scrubbing it? Id like to fill the tank and let it disolve

jurgenph · Jan 22, 2020

i would try a fresh razorblade, and see if it scrapes off.

J.

Scrubber_steve · Jan 22, 2020

Cory said:
How can i remove rust from razor blades from an empty glass aquarium?

I cleaned out an old 75 gallon sump. Had a little water in the bottom and left the razor blade in it. It rusted and stained the glass. I tried using vinegar for 1 hour to dissolve it. Didnt work.

Im mostly worried for tin or other metals that might poison the tank later on when i hook up my sump. Would muriatic acid dissolve it?

I dropped razor blade into my tank a couple of months back, & couldn't find it.
Started to see hair algae & Cyrano growing on my rocks for the first time in years.
I just set my algae scrubber photo period to 24/7 & that dealt with it. GHA & Cyrano gone after a few weeks, & I don't have a skimmer or use GAC.
Nothing died in my 60 gal system, all ok.