Favorite Acrylic scraper?

jsc0787 · 10/17/2008, 10:11 AM

What's your favorite tool for scraping corraline off of an acrylic tank wall?

Anyone with curved walls be sure to chime in!

hellssephiroth · 10/17/2008, 07:02 PM

ever try those plastic razors blades? just a thought i saw them at an animart one time

snorvich · 10/17/2008, 07:29 PM

I use metal and do it ever so carefully. Otherwise it is very difficult.

lizardarm · 10/17/2008, 09:04 PM

I've used an old credit card with good results. I recently bought the Kent Pro Scraper for acrylic tanks (red plastic blade) and noticed that it was in fact introducing new scratches to the acrylic; so it's off to the garbage can. My tank has a slight bulge to the panes do to it not being thick enough acrylic.

hellssephiroth · 10/18/2008, 08:49 AM

ya ive used a credit card a lot to scrape actually i cant believe i didnt think of saying that lol

twon8 · 10/18/2008, 10:31 AM

i use the plastic razor blades, the yellow ones work great, though they wear out very quickly. luckily a pack of 100 is only a few bucks.

i use the blades on this
http://www.northcoastmarines.com/cleaning.htm

hyperfocal · 10/18/2008, 11:28 AM

This is the best scraper for acrylic that I've found yet:

I picked up a handful at my LFS for a couple of bucks each. They're a bit brittle (I've broken two already) but they scrape gunk like a razor blade... even coralline. They don't scratch the acrylic, though you do have to be careful on big patches of coralline since the coralline is gritty.

c2300 · 10/18/2008, 12:44 PM

Old credit card or gift card is my favorite and most useful.

smartinez72 · 10/18/2008, 12:48 PM

^^^^ the credit card is the best and the intrest rates are so low.

areze · 10/18/2008, 12:49 PM

I use the kent scraper. works well for me. its a pack of tools with interchangable heads, it has a sand scooper too, which I like for getting stuff off the sand bed or redistributing sand around without sticking my whole arm in the tank.

Lotus99 · 10/18/2008, 12:49 PM

I like the one hyperfocal showed. it's pretty good, and the edges are great for the corners.

I have a whole bunch of different ones. I use a couple of different ones, and don't mind having a collection of them.

One thing to remember is that you should run your finger along the blade to check it is completely smooth before you use it... every time. They do get bumps in them that will scratch your tank.

jsc0787 · 10/18/2008, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by twon8

i use the blades on this
http://www.northcoastmarines.com/cleaning.htm

Wow those are super cheap! Never found something useful so cheap in this hobby! I remember buying the Kent one at like $1.7 a pop, and they would scratch the tank.

Have you ever noticed scratching with the yellow ones?

jsc0787 · 10/18/2008, 09:31 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by hyperfocal
This is the best scraper for acrylic that I've found yet:

I picked up a handful at my LFS for a couple of bucks each. They're a bit brittle (I've broken two already) but they scrape gunk like a razor blade... even coralline. They don't scratch the acrylic, though you do have to be careful on big patches of coralline since the coralline is gritty.

Can these be found online? I went to the website shown on the scraper but it doesn't seem to be in service.

10/17/2008, 10:11 AM	#1
jsc0787 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Newport Beach, CA Posts: 169	Favorite Acrylic scraper? What's your favorite tool for scraping corraline off of an acrylic tank wall? Anyone with curved walls be sure to chime in!

10/17/2008, 07:29 PM	#3
snorvich Team RC member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Outlander Posts: 40,953 Blog Entries: 46	I use metal and do it ever so carefully. Otherwise it is very difficult. __________________ Warmest regards, ~Steve~

10/17/2008, 09:04 PM	#4
lizardarm Registered Member Join Date: May 2004 Location: between a rock and a hard place Posts: 182	I've used an old credit card with good results. I recently bought the Kent Pro Scraper for acrylic tanks (red plastic blade) and noticed that it was in fact introducing new scratches to the acrylic; so it's off to the garbage can. My tank has a slight bulge to the panes do to it not being thick enough acrylic. __________________ Nothing is foolproof to a sufficiently motivated fool. Current Tank Info: 120 mixed reef

10/18/2008, 10:31 AM	#6
twon8 Formally registered membe Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: slightly sw of richmond, va Posts: 5,920	i use the plastic razor blades, the yellow ones work great, though they wear out very quickly. luckily a pack of 100 is only a few bucks. i use the blades on this http://www.northcoastmarines.com/cleaning.htm __________________ Anthony Richmond Reef Club "and as things fell apart, nobody paid much attention." Not building a wall but making a brick Current Tank Info: 300g DD display, 60g frag tank Last edited by twon8; 10/18/2008 at 10:37 AM.

10/18/2008, 11:28 AM	#7
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	This is the best scraper for acrylic that I've found yet: I picked up a handful at my LFS for a couple of bucks each. They're a bit brittle (I've broken two already) but they scrape gunk like a razor blade... even coralline. They don't scratch the acrylic, though you do have to be careful on big patches of coralline since the coralline is gritty. __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

10/17/2008, 07:02 PM	#2
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	ever try those plastic razors blades? just a thought i saw them at an animart one time

10/18/2008, 08:49 AM	#5
hellssephiroth Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Spencer, WI Posts: 314	ya ive used a credit card a lot to scrape actually i cant believe i didnt think of saying that lol

10/18/2008, 12:44 PM	#8
c2300 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 65	Old credit card or gift card is my favorite and most useful.

10/18/2008, 12:48 PM	#9
smartinez72 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Plainfield, IN. Posts: 86	^^^^ the credit card is the best and the intrest rates are so low.

10/18/2008, 12:49 PM	#10
areze Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 4,048	I use the kent scraper. works well for me. its a pack of tools with interchangable heads, it has a sand scooper too, which I like for getting stuff off the sand bed or redistributing sand around without sticking my whole arm in the tank. __________________ current tanks:240g of wallet draining capacity.

10/18/2008, 12:49 PM	#11
Lotus99 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,398	I like the one hyperfocal showed. it's pretty good, and the edges are great for the corners. I have a whole bunch of different ones. I use a couple of different ones, and don't mind having a collection of them. One thing to remember is that you should run your finger along the blade to check it is completely smooth before you use it... every time. They do get bumps in them that will scratch your tank. __________________ "So long, and thanks for all the fish" Current Tank Info: 125g reef, gobies, cardinals, softies and LPS; 36g Neo Nano tank; 10+ FW tanks