Un-be-f**king-lievable!

[jeffopentax]

Tank was looking a little hazy, so as per usual got out my magnet scraper, and this happened...

Not sure what I did to deserve it, but it's deep and VERY noticeable. ONE grain of sand completely ruined the front of my tank. Considering a tear down and part out...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[averhoog]

That really sucks. I got a good scratch in my front glass. steal wool helped it too make it less noticeable

 

[jeffopentax]

It's acrylic. It is deep enough to catch my fingernail. Took forever to remove super shallow scratches when I got the tank. The only way to possibly fix it would be to tear it down and power buff it. I'm not up for that hassle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[TORX]

OMG. Un-be-f**king-lievable! is an understatement. I personally am with you, buffing it out will be a huge hassle and it is right in the middle of the viewable area which will almost be impossible to remove without warping the view.

 

[yveterinarian]

It's acrylic. It is deep enough to catch my fingernail. Took forever to remove super shallow scratches when I got the tank. The only way to possibly fix it would be to tear it down and power buff it. I'm not up for that hassle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

How horrible! I feel your pain!

 

[SamB]

Sad to hear but that's the risks with acrylic eh - ugh

 

[jeffopentax]

If cut down it could make for an awesome frag tank...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[BIGSHOW]

Number one reason why I don't use any magnetic scrapers, glass or acrylic, only a matter of time before something happens.

Horrible to see I have been there before, I feel your pain

 

[OrcaSB]

It's acrylic. It is deep enough to catch my fingernail. Took forever to remove super shallow scratches when I got the tank. The only way to possibly fix it would be to tear it down and power buff it. I'm not up for that hassle.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

If it's acrylic just sand it out. I've had similar scratches in some of my acrylic tanks and i sanded them out no problem. You may not get it perfect but you should easily be able to get it where it's not nearly as noticeable.
I've sanded tanks filled with water. It takes time but it's better than taking down the tank. Just be careful and make sure you use very fine sandpaper or you'll just make it worse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[jeffopentax]

If it's acrylic just sand it out. I've had similar scratches in some of my acrylic tanks and i sanded them out no problem. You may not get it perfect but you should easily be able to get it where it's not nearly as noticeable.
I've sanded tanks filled with water. It takes time but it's better than taking down the tank. Just be careful and make sure you use very fine sandpaper or you'll just make it worse.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I agree sanding/buffing it out would be better than taking the tank down, but this is a deep scratch that runs virtually the entire length of a 6ft tank, plus one below, and one at the end of the "main scratch". I can see myself accomplishing nothing more than ultra frustration.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Josh]

Pretty heartbreaking, for the cost of a small sheet of fine sandpaper you could take a run at the corner/end of the scratch and gauge it. Maybe its easier than you are anticipating (i know glass half full opinion) for that cost id probably give it a try before making any rash decisions.

Good Luck and honestly i hope this pans out ok.

 

[Josh]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2239200

not sure how useful that is but people are talking about how you can use a neumatic buffer in the water. Worth a read maybe?

 

[jeffopentax]

Pretty heartbreaking, for the cost of a small sheet of fine sandpaper you could take a run at the corner/end of the scratch and gauge it. Maybe its easier than you are anticipating (i know glass half full opinion) for that cost id probably give it a try before making any rash decisions.

Good Luck and honestly i hope this pans out ok.

Based on the lighter scratches i worked on before setting up the tank, trying to fix these ones would be a daunting task. It's beyond my patience. Other than it looking like pos, the tank is running fine so I have all the time in the world to decide what to do. Maybe it's time for a smaller seahorse tank...


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Poseidon]

wow... that is awful.... i have acrylic and this gives me the shivers.... i try to use a magic eraser cut in half on the inside of my magnet scraper... ive been slacking lately but this just renewed my fears...
i feel for you Jeff

 

[jeffopentax]

In my frustration I forgot to mention the scratch is on the outside. I use the magic eraser sandwich method as well. How did the grain of sand get on the dry side of the magnet scraper? Beats the hell out of me! When i put on/remove the eraser on the wet side i leave the dry side on top of my canopy (so i don't accidentally get "bitten" by handling both sides at the same time).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Josh]

Thats super weird, however isnt that some good news? you can gently buff it out at least without doing major tank work.

 

[jeffopentax]

It is better than the inside. I'm just not confident it can be buffed out. Maybe someone a little more optimistic wants to buy a super scratched acrylic tank? Cheap cheap!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[AdInfinitum]

In my frustration I forgot to mention the scratch is on the outside. I use the magic eraser sandwich method as well. How did the grain of sand get on the dry side of the magnet scraper? Beats the hell out of me! When i put on/remove the eraser on the wet side i leave the dry side on top of my canopy (so i don't accidentally get "bitten" by handling both sides at the same time).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The felt pad on the outside half of most magnetic cleaners is not thick enough to keep the plastic edges away from the surface of the tank and the plastic can easily gouge acrylic. I always put a sheet of microfiber between the outer magnet and the tank on the rare occasion that I use a magnet.

Since the scratch is on the outside you will be able to sand and buff it out easily with the tank full. Acrylic does not develop anywhere near the same lensing effect that glass does when you polish out scratches....you'll be fine!

 

[jeffopentax]

I never tried sandpaper when attacking scratches before. Guess I'll give it a go. What grits should i start/end with?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[OrcaSB]

I never tried sandpaper when attacking scratches before. Guess I'll give it a go. What grits should i start/end with?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Try starting at 220 and end at 3000 for deep scratches.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk