Is it possible to get a scratch out of a glass tank

DGlove904 · 02/04/2009, 01:31 PM

How to get a scratch out of a glass tank

Stray32 · 02/04/2009, 01:38 PM

I asked this same question and the overwhelming response was unfortunately no. Someone posted a complicated and invasive method that they said would work, but it sounded too labor intensive and expensive to be worth it.

Scratches will be less visible if/when the tank is full of water. Those that are still visible (which are the deep ones), can be made less visible by keeping the algae out of them. Other than that, I am afraid I had to just live with it.

svynx · 02/04/2009, 02:12 PM

There are glass repair kits used by the automotive industry. You can get little kits to fix/fill in dings in a windshield. However I don't know if there has been any testing to see if any harmfull chemicals are in it. Just speculation though...it's glass, or similar to it, so I don't see any issue using it. The only set back is that the tank needs to be emptied so the area can be dried, and stay that way for the duration of the fix.

cdbias2 · 02/04/2009, 03:59 PM

Glass repair kits are for cracks, not scratches.

Drake1 · 02/04/2009, 09:25 PM

glass repair kits for cars are not for glass, they only fill the plastic coating that sandwiches the glass...thats what makes shatter proof glass so it is only a platic filler. the is no way to fix glass scratches, they can be sanded with special componds but they distort the glass since it will no longer be flat and now concave
jeff

James79 · 02/04/2009, 10:30 PM

Very light scratches can be easily buffed from glass with felt wheel and rogue polish. Very light means you can't feel it with your fingernail. On the outside this would be possible when setup but interior you'd have to drain completely.
Any scratch that you can feel with your fingernail is too deep to polish away. Most in the glass industry use a 6' rule to determine whether or not a scratch needs to be fixed for cosmetic reasons. Stand back 6' from glass and if you can see scratch it's a warrantable problem.

svynx · 02/05/2009, 08:41 AM

Well, I've repaired a small scratch, about an inch long, with a repair kit. Wasn't deep at all...was just in the middle of the main viewing area on one side. Worked pretty well. I don't have the tank anymore, so I can't get a pic of it. My friend that I sold it to didn't know the scratch was there, even after filling it with water. I had to point it out.

jdm18honda · 02/05/2009, 11:13 AM

Cerium Oxide google it lots of stuff

jdm18honda · 02/05/2009, 11:16 AM

you can also get diamond paste in diff grits for deep scratchs

L98-Z · 02/05/2009, 11:56 AM

Yes it's possible, but it's not fun. Trust me, I did alot of buffing with cerium oxide on my tank.

02/04/2009, 01:31 PM	#1
DGlove904 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Jacksonville,Florida Posts: 733	Is it possible to get a scratch out of a glass tank How to get a scratch out of a glass tank

02/04/2009, 01:38 PM	#2
Stray32 Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Castle Shannon (Pittsburgh) PA Posts: 897	I asked this same question and the overwhelming response was unfortunately no. Someone posted a complicated and invasive method that they said would work, but it sounded too labor intensive and expensive to be worth it. Scratches will be less visible if/when the tank is full of water. Those that are still visible (which are the deep ones), can be made less visible by keeping the algae out of them. Other than that, I am afraid I had to just live with it. __________________ Thanks, Jared Current Tank Info: 75 gal mixed reef, 30 Gal Frag Tank

02/04/2009, 02:12 PM	#3
svynx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mt. Wolf, PA Posts: 974	There are glass repair kits used by the automotive industry. You can get little kits to fix/fill in dings in a windshield. However I don't know if there has been any testing to see if any harmfull chemicals are in it. Just speculation though...it's glass, or similar to it, so I don't see any issue using it. The only set back is that the tank needs to be emptied so the area can be dried, and stay that way for the duration of the fix. __________________ "What?!? Haven't you ever seen someone work on an engine with an axe before?" Mythbusters Current Tank Info: Biocube 29, Aurora puck LED

02/05/2009, 08:41 AM	#7
svynx Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Mt. Wolf, PA Posts: 974	Well, I've repaired a small scratch, about an inch long, with a repair kit. Wasn't deep at all...was just in the middle of the main viewing area on one side. Worked pretty well. I don't have the tank anymore, so I can't get a pic of it. My friend that I sold it to didn't know the scratch was there, even after filling it with water. I had to point it out. __________________ "What?!? Haven't you ever seen someone work on an engine with an axe before?" Mythbusters Current Tank Info: Biocube 29, Aurora puck LED

02/05/2009, 11:13 AM	#8
jdm18honda Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 327	Cerium Oxide google it lots of stuff __________________ Chris from the middle of no where Current Tank Info: 110 rimless with 75 gallon sump/refuge and 24 gallon frag tank all custom by reef savvy

02/04/2009, 03:59 PM	#4
cdbias2 Appalachian Reef Society Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Alum Creek, WV (No more) Posts: 1,433	Glass repair kits are for cracks, not scratches.

02/04/2009, 09:25 PM	#5
Drake1 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: lakeville,mn Posts: 530	glass repair kits for cars are not for glass, they only fill the plastic coating that sandwiches the glass...thats what makes shatter proof glass so it is only a platic filler. the is no way to fix glass scratches, they can be sanded with special componds but they distort the glass since it will no longer be flat and now concave jeff

02/04/2009, 10:30 PM	#6
James79 Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Houston Tx Posts: 170	Very light scratches can be easily buffed from glass with felt wheel and rogue polish. Very light means you can't feel it with your fingernail. On the outside this would be possible when setup but interior you'd have to drain completely. Any scratch that you can feel with your fingernail is too deep to polish away. Most in the glass industry use a 6' rule to determine whether or not a scratch needs to be fixed for cosmetic reasons. Stand back 6' from glass and if you can see scratch it's a warrantable problem.

02/05/2009, 11:16 AM	#9
jdm18honda Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: jacksonville fl Posts: 327	you can also get diamond paste in diff grits for deep scratchs __________________ Chris from the middle of no where Current Tank Info: 110 rimless with 75 gallon sump/refuge and 24 gallon frag tank all custom by reef savvy

02/05/2009, 11:56 AM	#10
L98-Z Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Warner Robins, Georgia Posts: 1,230	Yes it's possible, but it's not fun. Trust me, I did alot of buffing with cerium oxide on my tank.