Acrylic scratch remover. What's the secret to success?

[TomToro]

I just bought the pentair acrylic scratch remover kit for my 240g. I'm most concerned with the upper 1" and the lower 2" or the 8' long tank. They are scratched and caked with coralline. I'm doing this with the inhabitants in, so I'm wet sanding. Not doing anything to the outside surface.

I'm just looking for the right way to do the job from people that have already done it or have seen it done. I looked on youtube and it was pretty vague.

1. My sandpaper starts with a 1200. Should I go out and buy something coarser to get the coralline off?

2. How do you get the sandpaper to stay on the magnavore evenly without coming off or slipping?

3. Is there a specific technique that works best or should I do the straight back and forth and then opposite straight back and forth for each section of sandpaper?

4. How will I know when I'm done with each grade of sandpaper?

5. Any do's and don'ts that I don't want to overlook?


Thanks for any help,
Tom

[tkeracer619]

You have to do it by hand (no magnet) if you want it to work.

You have to scrape off the coraline with a scraper. Use ones made for glass and bend the sides up just a bit so it doesn't scratch the tank.

I hope you know this is going to take a very long time and completely suck.

[ibefishy]

Originally Posted by TomToro

1. My sandpaper starts with a 1200. Should I go out and buy something coarser to get the coralline off?

2. How do you get the sandpaper to stay on the magnavore evenly without coming off or slipping?

3. Is there a specific technique that works best or should I do the straight back and forth and then opposite straight back and forth for each section of sandpaper?

4. How will I know when I'm done with each grade of sandpaper?

5. Any do's and don'ts that I don't want to overlook?


Thanks for any help,
Tom

1) First dont use sandpaper to remove the coraline algae, you will scratch your tank worse than it is now. I used an old credit card or store rewards card. You will need to start with something around 800 grit paper unless the scratches are really bad. Then progressively move up 200 grit at a time until you reach about 3000 grit.

2) Dont use the Magnivore, spend a few dollars and buy a new rubber sanding block. As mentioned earlier a magnivore wont hold the paper tight.

3) Back and forth against the grain with each paper works well.

4) You can look at your tank and see the scratches the sandpaper leaves behind. When you see all the scratches going the same direction, you can call it good. You will have to look very carefully once the sandpaper gets up to the 2000+ grits. The acrylic almost becomes foggy.

5) Dont rush! The end result is a direct representation of the amount of work you put in. Lots of elbow grease and work but it is worth it.

Here is the 100g I bought off CL and then after 60 hours of sanding and polishing the end result. The middle picture is after starting with 400 grit. My tank was really scratched up. I found it very hard to "sand" on my tank without thinking I was destroying it. But after lots of work and the final polish with Novus products, I am happy with the result. Not bad for a $60 tank.

[psusocr]

all about time and elbow grease...be patient, dont rush

[Just2Many]

So I'm getting ready to start this process few questions...
1) I'm using the Novus 3, 2,and 1 System do I need to sand at all? I'll be putting pictures up soon. The tanks isn't bad at all really.
2) Your wet sanding correct? do you need a lot of water? The tank is sealed and I'll have to flip it upside down to start.
3) Is there a way to just use a buffer?

[Just2Many]

So I'm getting ready to start this process few questions...
1) I'm using the Novus 3, 2,and 1 System do I need to sand at all? I'll be putting pictures up soon. The tanks isn; bad at all really.
2) Your wet sanding correct? do you need a lot of water? The tank is sealed and I'll have to flip it upside down to start.
3) Is there a way to just use a buffer?

[ibefishy]

Originally Posted by Just2Many

So I'm getting ready to start this process few questions...
1) I'm using the Novus 3, 2,and 1 System do I need to sand at all? I'll be putting pictures up soon. The tanks isn; bad at all really.
2) Your wet sanding correct? do you need a lot of water? The tank is sealed and I'll have to flip it upside down to start.
3) Is there a way to just use a buffer?

Whether or not to just use Novus, depends on how bad the deep the scratches are.
Yes you need to wet sand. You need to keep the paper very wet or you get a paste forming out of the acrylic.What do you mean the tank is sealed? How are you supposed to get water in it?
Some people have had excellent results using an random orbital buffer. If you use an air powered one, just remember to wrap the end where the air blows out so you dont spary oil inside the tank.

[rwessels]

I sanded with 320, then 400, then 600, then 1200 using a hand sander (Those were the grits that were readily available. Then I used Novus 3 and then Novus 2. Took a long time, but the results were great and half the tank looks almost as good as new. The other have still needs the Novus 2/3 treatment. 10 foot tanks take a long time to fix.

[Just2Many]

Thanks for the input.
And it's sealed there is two openings at the top then sealed all the way to the internal overflow box so I don't want the much to be all at the bottom.