Any coral and fish safe ways to fix some scratches on acrylic tank?

grant778 · 07/12/2014, 04:39 PM

My acrylic tank is 29 gallons and contains 2 clownfish, some mushroom corals of various varieties and a green branching montipora. There are various smaller scratches near the bottom of the tank near the substrate but recently I found a rather long scratch on one side of the tank that I would like to get rid of. Are there any ways to do this in an active aquarium without harming my fish or corals?

johnlewis · 07/12/2014, 04:51 PM

Well I am also looking for this magic tool. I've used various magnets with standard buffing pad, the dobbie pads, the Mr. Clean pad all with no luck. I have a 7' x 3' tank and I have coraline at the base of the front pane that I can not get off.

grant778 · 07/13/2014, 07:30 AM

I have an empty 10 gallon quarantine tank that is awaiting a new arrival I could put the clownfish in for a bit, but I have no way of removing the corals during this process unless I take out all my rocks, and that is something I would prefer to avoid.

johnlewis · 07/13/2014, 07:36 AM

I have found some large commercial services that will polish a tank, they use a underwater grinder and various polishing pads to do it but they have a limited area of service, and I imagine the price would be rather expensive. I am trying to find the tools they use, and duplicate the process.

pmrossetti · 07/13/2014, 08:55 AM

http://www.mightymagnets.com/

See their cutter pads
and scratch kits.

johnlewis · 07/13/2014, 09:47 AM

I've seen it but I've been skeptical. I do like the 30 day return policy it might be just worth it to try. Have you used them?

Found this review http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1847732

johnlewis · 07/23/2014, 05:33 AM

Well it arrived last week I spent some time reading the directions and many warnings then got to work.

In addition purchased the algae buster pad and the scratch remover kit.

The algae buster will remove green algae without a problem and New coralline. Key is new not the stuff you have not been able to get off.

To get rid of the coralline I've been fighting with I used the scratch remover kit and sanded it off. I used some replacement pads and wet 400 and 600 paper to make my own sanding pads as the kit only goes down to 1500 grit.

Well n now I have a clean scratch less tank first time in years.

inetmug · 07/23/2014, 05:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnlewis

Well it arrived last week I spent some time reading the directions and many warnings then got to work.

In addition purchased the algae buster pad and the scratch remover kit.

The algae buster will remove green algae without a problem and New coralline. Key is new not the stuff you have not been able to get off.

To get rid of the coralline I've been fighting with I used the scratch remover kit and sanded it off. I used some replacement pads and wet 400 and 600 paper to make my own sanding pads as the kit only goes down to 1500 grit.

Well n now I have a clean scratch less tank first time in years.

Just to be clear, you used the paper in the tank with livestock? is the 1500 grit paper also, or some sort of sponge? I have heard the mr clean is like 1000 grit.

Any videos of it working?

johnlewis · 07/23/2014, 05:50 AM

400 600 sand paper attached to a cleaning pad with super glue. Tank was stocked with fish and a couple corals. I did not make videos but I can although not much coralline to clean

johnlewis · 07/24/2014, 06:30 PM

http://youtu.be/ISt1ZNZjb7Y

07/12/2014, 04:39 PM	#1
grant778 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 145	Any coral and fish safe ways to fix some scratches on acrylic tank? My acrylic tank is 29 gallons and contains 2 clownfish, some mushroom corals of various varieties and a green branching montipora. There are various smaller scratches near the bottom of the tank near the substrate but recently I found a rather long scratch on one side of the tank that I would like to get rid of. Are there any ways to do this in an active aquarium without harming my fish or corals?

07/13/2014, 09:47 AM	#6
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	I've seen it but I've been skeptical. I do like the 30 day return policy it might be just worth it to try. Have you used them? Found this review http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/sh....php?t=1847732 Last edited by johnlewis; 07/13/2014 at 10:10 AM. Reason: Added link

07/12/2014, 04:51 PM	#2
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	Well I am also looking for this magic tool. I've used various magnets with standard buffing pad, the dobbie pads, the Mr. Clean pad all with no luck. I have a 7' x 3' tank and I have coraline at the base of the front pane that I can not get off.

07/13/2014, 07:30 AM	#3
grant778 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Posts: 145	I have an empty 10 gallon quarantine tank that is awaiting a new arrival I could put the clownfish in for a bit, but I have no way of removing the corals during this process unless I take out all my rocks, and that is something I would prefer to avoid.

07/13/2014, 07:36 AM	#4
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	I have found some large commercial services that will polish a tank, they use a underwater grinder and various polishing pads to do it but they have a limited area of service, and I imagine the price would be rather expensive. I am trying to find the tools they use, and duplicate the process.

07/13/2014, 08:55 AM	#5
pmrossetti Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Cali. Posts: 3,199	http://www.mightymagnets.com/ See their cutter pads and scratch kits.

07/23/2014, 05:33 AM	#7
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	Well it arrived last week I spent some time reading the directions and many warnings then got to work. In addition purchased the algae buster pad and the scratch remover kit. The algae buster will remove green algae without a problem and New coralline. Key is new not the stuff you have not been able to get off. To get rid of the coralline I've been fighting with I used the scratch remover kit and sanded it off. I used some replacement pads and wet 400 and 600 paper to make my own sanding pads as the kit only goes down to 1500 grit. Well n now I have a clean scratch less tank first time in years.

07/23/2014, 05:50 AM	#9
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	400 600 sand paper attached to a cleaning pad with super glue. Tank was stocked with fish and a couple corals. I did not make videos but I can although not much coralline to clean

07/24/2014, 06:30 PM	#10
johnlewis Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Brighton, MI, USA Posts: 194	http://youtu.be/ISt1ZNZjb7Y