Any ideas on how to remove salt from flat paint walls?

[Microcosmos]

Hello everyone!

I did a search but didn't come up with anything...has anyone had any luck removing salt from walss with flat paint, without removing the paint or having to repaint? I have a 20 gallon FOWLR setup and I have an air pump in an aquapod/sunpod combo. The aquapod doesn't have much room in the back for anything but an air pump to create oxygen flow, and the little pump that comes with the tank is barely good enough just for water circulation. (It is a pretty little tank though, I must confess!) Also, I believe the sunpod (a 250 watt MH bulb if I remember correctly, I got the thing a couple years ago and have never changed the bulb! ) contributes to the mess by baking the salt in whenever it splashes up onto the wall behind the tank. I had the same problem in my last apartment, and when I moved I didn't remember to put up a splash guard of any kind with all the hustle and bustle of the move, though I thought about it t some point before I moved. I'd like to use some kind of cleaning agent but don't want to make matters worse by using the wrong thing (which is what happened in the old apartment the last time I tried).

Any advice will be appreciated, thanks for taking the time to read this!!

 

[Anonymous]

elbow grease and some new paint. You might have to spackle as well.

I just peeked behind my tank the other day and I'm in the same boat.

B

 

[Microcosmos]

Thanks Bingo! That was what I was afraid of! Oh, well... I kinda wanted to paint anyways... :roll:

 

[Len]

I had this problem and was told there's no way to fix it without repainting. The pro painter told me the moisture and salt causes damage that is irreparable, and some of the damage actually reached my drywall. I've since installed a vinyl barrier behind my tank to prevent future damage.

 

[Microcosmos]

Thanks Len!

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, so TSP ain't it, eh? Some of my earliest memories are of cleaning the walls with TSP.

 

[trido]

Wow, so TSP ain't it, eh? Some of my earliest memories are of cleaning the walls with TSP.

That would be my recommendation as the first step. Then a quality primer with stain killer, followed with a minimum of an eggshell or satin paint. Flat paint has zero protective properties from water and dirt.
IME flat paint washes off the wall with a wet rag.
Eggshells and above can be washed, and in worst case scenarios rubbed with chemical cleaners to remove ink, tar, etc.

I do ALOT of painting.

 

[Len]

Ah. Good to know about what type of paint to use. My wall/paint was damaged pretty badly after 10 years of exposure (all hidden from view since my tank is right up against the wall). No idea what paint was on there before.

 

[Anonymous]

Wow, so TSP ain't it, eh? Some of my earliest memories are of cleaning the walls with TSP.

That would be my recommendation as the first step. Then a quality primer with stain killer, followed with a minimum of an eggshell or satin paint. Flat paint has zero protective properties from water and dirt.
IME flat paint washes off the wall with a wet rag.
Eggshells and above can be washed, and in worst case scenarios rubbed with chemical cleaners to remove ink, tar, etc.

I do ALOT of painting.

And I just happen to have, unopened, 5gals of Kilz (or whatever it's called). We grossly overcalculated what would be needed and never returned it.

 

[trido]

Seamaiden, thats alot of primer. 8O

We have used Kilz or Zinsser for all of our remodeling for over a decade. IMO they are both good quality water based primers. The Zinsser is pigmented with Shellac, likely having more Voc.

 

[Anonymous]

It'll keep, right? :lol:

 

[Anonymous]

It'll keep, right? :lol:

Leave it in Oakland for me, I can always use more primer.

 

[Anonymous]

Weren't you supposed to have a light-mover for me? I was in Oakland last week, whoops!

 

[Anonymous]

Weren't you supposed to have a light-mover for me? I was in Oakland last week, whoops!

Shoot from the look of how that thread ended it sure looked like Matt was sending it over to Rich for you since he's in Alameda Guess I was wrong

 

[Anonymous]

Well, now I have no idea. :?

 

[Anonymous]

Well, now I have no idea. :?

I'll talk to Matt and figure it out. I'm heading to Oakland Sunday so I can get it to Emeryville/West Oakland and then provide you with the contact #

 

[Anonymous]

Mr Cleans Magic Eraser removes everything. It takes permenant marker off of walls and does not remove paint.

 

[Microcosmos]

Mr Cleans Magic Eraser removes everything. It takes permenant marker off of walls and does not remove paint.

Thanks! I'll give that a try, it can't be any worse than what I'm already doing (which is nothing )!