Salt Creep Question

What's the best way to get rid of salt creep on your skimmer and glass top?

Lately I've been just using freshwater and a rubber scrapper to get the stuff off but sometimes when I do that it knocks a little bit of salt back into the tank (how bad is that?) Also how often do you guys clean off the salt creep? I've been doing it on a weekly basis and that seems to keep it down but the glass top gets loaded with it like crazy at times so not sure if it's a huge issue that I need to attend to more often (I make sure it isn't blocking the light) or weekly cleanings are fine. I just don't want anything to get corroded and wasn't sure on the time-frame when those kind of dangers could occur.

Thanks!

 

i always knock salt creep back into the tank... just don't let big chunks land on a coral...

 

The progression of salt creep different for all systems. It depends on bubbles breaking at the surface, splashing, and other factors. The timeline to clean I suppose, is as often as you feel is necessary to keep the light unimpeded. As for knocking the salt back into the water, I don't see that as a problem, as it's not adding any additional salinity. That salt was already in there, right?


Have you considered not using glass tops? If you must, then a good way to clean them of salt creep and other mineral deposits (scale) is to use vinegar and warm water.

 

Thanks for the input! I did consider not having a glass top, then my long nose hawk fish jumped out . So I'm trying to keep it closed to prevent any other accidents like that. I figured every few weeks I'll scrub it down in the sink or something. As for letting the salt getting knocked back into the tank, that's great that it has a low impact (makes me feel a lot better when i knock some in by accident).

 

Have you tried using light difusser (egg crate) for a top.

 

You could try corallife's salt creep eliminator. This is what I use to protect my equipment of salt creep.

 

I looked into the salt creep eliminator but the reviews were mixed on whether it worked or not. How well does it work in your system (or anyone who has used it) ? Thanks!

 

Another suggestion is instead of glass tops or egg crate (which is a light diffuser), is to use window screen kits and aviary netting. Makes a nice cover without losing any light.

And I clean salt creep weekly (or more if needed) and just let it fall back into the tank. Kind of OCD about keeping the tank clean.