Hi everyone, I’ve recently come into the ownership of a new (potential) terrarium! This was gifted to me from someone that was moving away and I’d like to make something out of it, I guess my first question would be how does one go about proofing these things and do I need to consider a safe way of cleaning this for any future inhabitants(have no idea what I want to put in here yet)???
by SoggyBreadfruit
6 Comments
Don’t use scotch brite
I just use a little bit of dawn soap and hot water
Distilled Vinegar the best option out there
I wipe the inside with isopropyl alcohol then let it dry with the windows open.
Mostly just warm water is recommended to clean tanks.
Vinegar is a mild acid that can remove hard water deposits. Rinse thoroughly.
Avoid using soap or detergent. Soap residue, if not rinsed away completely can kill some creatures by ruining their ability to breathe properly. Both fish and insects can be harmed by getting soapy water in their lungs/gills/respiratory system. However, if it’s just a terrarium and mostly plants, it’s not a big deal. Just rinse very thoroughly.
Rubbing alcohol may be a good way to wipe oils off the glass, if needed. It can bond to both polar and nonpolar substances (similar to soap), without leaving dangerous residue like soap can. You should use a paper towel, not cloth, because fabric softener on cloth could just leave more residue. However avoid touching the silicone sealant with alcohol, because rubbing alcohol might weaken the silicone.
When done, put a few inches of water in the tank and leave it for a day to check for leaks.
A clean slate.