tank scratches

Richard parry · 03/27/2007, 03:58 PM

Got my new 250w mh today and i love them but i cant believe in this new light how many scratches the tank has. Anyne else had the same? Thanks

T Man · 03/27/2007, 10:31 PM

I've seen this before, deep scratches in my glass tank. I've found that if I "scrub" the algae out of the scratch- it won't be as noticable under the MH lighting. If you have acrylic, it is possible to polish the scratches out- but you have to drain the tank as far as you can.
The biggest "heart breaker" of it is that I put every single scratch on my tanks myself. That alone is motivation enough to pay special attention when I'm cleaning my glass. One piece of sand can wreak havoc on glass or acrylic! TinMan

Ritten · 03/27/2007, 10:52 PM

I'm in the same boat as TinMan. I have a bowfront and have scratched it pretty bad. I have one of those blue algea scrubbing pads and if I target the scrathes in a circular motion about once a week it removes the algea from the scratches and you really can't see them. I also notice when I get a new cleanup crew, i.e. replace snails they clean them up. HTH

chadman · 03/27/2007, 11:03 PM

don't they make products which can remove the scratches from glass? if it is high in your tank you may be able to take some water out for a little while and fix the scratches....

Richard parry · 03/28/2007, 08:10 AM

What do you think about turning the tank round?

Richard parry · 03/28/2007, 03:36 PM

Maybe its just me. I just feel that the water should be clearer too and oh, maybe i'm getting a bit obsesive

T Man · 03/28/2007, 04:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Richard parry
What do you think about turning the tank round? Maybe its just me. I just feel that the water should be clearer too and oh, maybe i'm getting a bit obsesive

Have you been cleaning the glass on the back or have you just let it go? I let mine go to the coralline in hopes of "flipping" it around some day. Since your tank is 420 ltre you are going to have to empty it out to move it. This might be the time to paint the back side and if you have acrylic, polish the scratches out. It might be possible to remove scratches on the glass, a good place to look into that is an automobile glass replacement outfit.

As far as the obsession, I have been in this hobby for nearly a quarter of a century with absolutely no regrets. Something such as reefkeeping is as rewarding as it is consuming, I have come to look at it as a therapy, and an education that is priceless! TinMan

Richard parry · 03/28/2007, 04:39 PM

Thanks Tinman, i'm wondering if emptying the tank out and re-aquascaping to the tanks inhabitants. What do you think?

Richard parry · 03/28/2007, 04:53 PM

That didnt make any sense did it. I just dont want to harm my fish and corals.
Also, the back is covered in coraline and has never been cleaned.

T Man · 03/28/2007, 04:54 PM

Yea do it, I have recently changed my 125 gal to my 210 gal. I have this big plastic tank that I put all of my inhabitants and rock in- it did'nt have a sump but the water was stable enough for about a week, until the water in the 210 was stable enough to start the aquascape. The best part of the whole thing was to see everything in the holding tank............enjoy. TinMan

Richard parry · 03/28/2007, 05:04 PM

How can i get all that crap off the back glass though?Thanks!
Awsome pic!

T Man · 03/28/2007, 05:28 PM

Is your tank glass? if so, a razorblade will work very well. Acrylic might be different, try vineger , I've never had an acryic tank so I can't say for sure. TinMan

awestruck · 03/29/2007, 07:20 AM

Weird that you started this thread because I'm breaking my tank down this weekend for a plethora of reasons: 1) Wanna paint the living room and can't get behind the aquarium, 2) Need to add shims to the tank, and 3) Want to polish the glass to remove scratches. I went to a local glass company and the person said they sell a compound for $5.99 that will buff the glass really well. She said it might not take out all of the scratches but it will definitely make them much less noticable. I'm going to try this and figured I might as well get out the gallon of vinegar and clean my tank really well!

03/27/2007, 03:58 PM	#1
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	tank scratches Got my new 250w mh today and i love them but i cant believe in this new light how many scratches the tank has. Anyne else had the same? Thanks __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/27/2007, 10:31 PM	#2
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	I've seen this before, deep scratches in my glass tank. I've found that if I "scrub" the algae out of the scratch- it won't be as noticable under the MH lighting. If you have acrylic, it is possible to polish the scratches out- but you have to drain the tank as far as you can. The biggest "heart breaker" of it is that I put every single scratch on my tanks myself. That alone is motivation enough to pay special attention when I'm cleaning my glass. One piece of sand can wreak havoc on glass or acrylic! TinMan __________________ He that can have patience can have what he will. ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: click the "TzFuture" folder in my profile Last edited by T Man; 03/27/2007 at 11:00 PM.

03/28/2007, 08:10 AM	#5
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	What do you think about turning the tank round? __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/28/2007, 03:36 PM	#6
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	Maybe its just me. I just feel that the water should be clearer too and oh, maybe i'm getting a bit obsesive __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/28/2007, 04:39 PM	#8
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	Thanks Tinman, i'm wondering if emptying the tank out and re-aquascaping to the tanks inhabitants. What do you think? __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/27/2007, 10:52 PM	#3
Ritten Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 2,164	I'm in the same boat as TinMan. I have a bowfront and have scratched it pretty bad. I have one of those blue algea scrubbing pads and if I target the scrathes in a circular motion about once a week it removes the algea from the scratches and you really can't see them. I also notice when I get a new cleanup crew, i.e. replace snails they clean them up. HTH

03/27/2007, 11:03 PM	#4
chadman Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Reading, PA Posts: 14	don't they make products which can remove the scratches from glass? if it is high in your tank you may be able to take some water out for a little while and fix the scratches....

03/28/2007, 04:53 PM	#9
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	That didnt make any sense did it. I just dont want to harm my fish and corals. Also, the back is covered in coraline and has never been cleaned. __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/28/2007, 04:54 PM	#10
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	Yea do it, I have recently changed my 125 gal to my 210 gal. I have this big plastic tank that I put all of my inhabitants and rock in- it did'nt have a sump but the water was stable enough for about a week, until the water in the 210 was stable enough to start the aquascape. The best part of the whole thing was to see everything in the holding tank............enjoy. TinMan __________________ He that can have patience can have what he will. ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: click the "TzFuture" folder in my profile

03/28/2007, 05:04 PM	#11
Richard parry Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: luton england Posts: 247	How can i get all that crap off the back glass though?Thanks! Awsome pic! __________________ I spend more time chasing my kids at the fish store than looking at the tanks Current Tank Info: reef, 420L

03/28/2007, 05:28 PM	#12
T Man ~PPPPPPP~ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Emerald City Posts: 1,045	Is your tank glass? if so, a razorblade will work very well. Acrylic might be different, try vineger , I've never had an acryic tank so I can't say for sure. TinMan __________________ He that can have patience can have what he will. ~ Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: click the "TzFuture" folder in my profile

03/29/2007, 07:20 AM	#13
awestruck Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 1,572	Weird that you started this thread because I'm breaking my tank down this weekend for a plethora of reasons: 1) Wanna paint the living room and can't get behind the aquarium, 2) Need to add shims to the tank, and 3) Want to polish the glass to remove scratches. I went to a local glass company and the person said they sell a compound for $5.99 that will buff the glass really well. She said it might not take out all of the scratches but it will definitely make them much less noticable. I'm going to try this and figured I might as well get out the gallon of vinegar and clean my tank really well! __________________ I received the best gift ever today: My son told me that he loves me. Current Tank Info: 65g. w/20g. sump; Reef Octopus Skimmer; (2) x 150w. MH and (2) x 65w. pc. sump-mixed reef