Incorporating these practices will ensure less damage to the viewing panels. don't have an acrylic tank, but i'd say, don't buff away too much. After you get done with the micro-mesh sandpaper, try to get some tru vu scratch removal compound and finish it off. The concept of cushioned abrasives, which was patented over 25 years ago by the Swiss inventor Fred Anton, first came into use for cleaning fine art paintings. Use a new soft cloth to be sure you don't scratch the aquarium surface, or mix cleaning products. There are quite a few popular brands like Epoxy you can buy it from. Take a look at the fingernail files at your local pharmacy. Do you know which one you have? You can either do it by hand using cotton swabs (preferable for fine scratches) or buy an electric hand drill attached via buffing wheel for efficient results. A more cost-effective way will be to replace the individual panel. ya. the heat issue is a good point too. Avoid using regular sandpaper and instead, look for one that you can use in wet and dry conditions. Applying too much focus on sanding pressure on the scratch will leave the area looking markedly different from the surrounding acrylic. Although you may think this would result in a smooth finish, the opposite is true. I wouldn't feel comfortable using a polishing compound in a stocked tank! Although acrylic and glass are both different materials, the ways to remove scratches from them are quite similar. For slightly more noticeable scratches, on the other hand, you may need to use sandpaper of around 3000 grit. My hubby recently helped me get the bottom, but it got scratched a wee bit more. It's one thing to read directions, but it's so very helpful to actually see the work being done and the progress through the different grits. The result is a product with a life that is 7 to 15 times as long as coated abrasives containing fixed crystals. Often once the tank is filled, the scratch is barely visible, if at all. Never forget to rinse off the abrasive/polishing material with clean water after buffing out the scratches. I FUBARED a front glass of a tank with a credit card that had some sand stuck in it some how. For much more noticeable scratches, sandpaper with a grit rating of between 100 and 300 will be called for. Wear new rubber gloves as you work to protect your hands from the chemicals. Required fields are marked *. lol. try this link http://m2reviews.cnsi.net/scotts/basics/buff.htm. However, it is not difficult to remove scratches from aquariums made of acrylic. Depending on where you got the scratches on your aquarium, you may need to empty it and find temporary housing for your tanks livestock. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'aquariumfocus_com-large-mobile-banner-2','ezslot_4',647,'0','0'])};if(typeof __ez_fad_position!='undefined'){__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-aquariumfocus_com-large-mobile-banner-2-0')};Liquid glass resin is primarily used for repairing/filling up cracks in a cars windshield. BUT the tanks is back to normal, and has 1000.00 worth of lighting ( 1200 Watts), so its good ta go @ SPS. This grit will allow you to smoothen out the scratched surface without causing any unwanted damage to unaffected acrylic. The first thing you need to determine is the severity of the scratches. The grit youll need to use ultimately depends on the severity of the scratch. LOL. Simply mix 2 cups of water in 1 cup of cerium oxide, and your polishing compound is ready. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. SANDER" from Dewalt. Would you recommend the Novus over the micromesh. All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published. One of the less-known but efficient glass resin applications is scratch removal. Question: I have a customer with 6 foot long by 3.5 foot deep acrylic salt water aquarium that has scratches inside and out. Apply enough acrylic cleaner to ensure the surface is completely wet, and use a soft cotton cloth to wipe it clean. For the scratches spread over a larger area or are somewhat moderate, use an electric hand drill attached with some sort of buffing wheel. Our trained team of editors and researchers validate articles for accuracy and comprehensiveness. I'd like to share my recent experience. Since it contains harmful chemicals, any amount of residue is deadly to your aquatic pets. All you have to do is, take a small amount of toothpaste and rub it on scratches using cotton swabs. Thanks I will be ordering within the week any recomendations on quantities and grits>? Are Protein Skimmers Necessary In An Aquarium? or anyone seen it done, or done it? The chemicals used to clean the aquarium are toxic for many fish and marine creatures. I've got glass. but that link shows direct application for clarity sake. Not a lot of places online have them. Your email address will not be published. You dont have to be an expert, simply follow the step-by-step process we have shared below, and with ease and convenience, you will get the job done. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The following article briefly touches upon important aspects and proven methods to remove scratches from aquarium glass. 1.5 inches thick acrylic Those are amazing magnets!!! Then, once the surface feels smooth from the sandpaper, buff out the scratch with a soft towel and acrylic polish. MUWAHHHH HAHAHAHAHAHAH that struck me soooo funny. Turn on the drill, and start buffing out the surface with your hand lightly placed on the machine. The uniform scratch pattern of a cushioned abrasive allows the manufacturer to use finer grades of abrasives in fewer steps to finish a part. Earn 30 Reward Points. In this article, we shall look at how to remove scratches from an acrylic aquarium like this one below. It's a sandpaper with tiny crystals in it that is made to be used with acrylic as well as many other things. The tru vu scratch removal compounds might be a little hard to track down. Also, the bond that holds crystals to the backing is flexible. Most acrylic tanks are relatively affordable and durable, but you will ultimately need to deal with minor damage such as scratches and scuffs. Rinse residue with clean water and examine your work. Ordering micromesh tonight. Yeah, acrylic tanks can be somewhat high maintenance. ? Maybe you should try some stuff called micro-mesh. They usually have a longer lifespan and are scratch-resistance to some extent but dont mistake it for being scratch-proof. Sandpaper will be needed at this point. This grit will allow you to smooth out the scratched surface without causing any unwanted damage to unaffected acrylic.. For slightly more pronounced scratches, youll want a sandpaper with a grit rating of around 3000. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Fix-Scratches-on-an-Aquarium-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Fix-Scratches-on-an-Aquarium-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/ca\/Fix-Scratches-on-an-Aquarium-Step-1-Version-2.jpg\/aid912032-v4-728px-Fix-Scratches-on-an-Aquarium-Step-1-Version-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"