[untamed]

One of the things that I get asked about a LOT is how bad a problem scratches are on the acrylic tank...and would I do acrylic again...etc. etc.

At almost three years running now, the tank is pretty badly scratched. It's the tangs. Their spines just leave marks. There are also a fair number of urchin chew marks, but those are mostly around the edges where the coraline grows.

Mostly, the scratches are only visible to me. While the tank is filled, it takes a pretty bad scratch to be noticeable. Unfortunately, algae tends to get into them and the magnet doesn't remove the algae from the scratches. It requires that I get my arm in there and rub in order to remove the small algae spots that cling inside the scratches.

So....I decided to polish the entire aquarium. As this is the first time I've attempted this, I was pretty nervous. First, I hand spot-rubbed the worst of the scratches using 2400 grit paper. This is pretty upsetting to look at...


Then I began to polish the entire panel working my way through 3200, 3600, 4000, 6000, 8000 grits using the Mag cleaner. With each change in grit, you change the direction of the rub from sideways to up/down. Rubbing up/down is extremely difficult. Each pad takes about 30 minutes to cover the entire panel a few times. The final grit (12000) is so smooth that you can no longer use the mag cleaner and you have to do it by hand.

The result..? At least 95% of the visible scratches are completely gone. Some of my original 2400 polish is still visible in some areas and I've learned that you have to be consistent with the pressure you apply. As I rubbed the 2400 by hand, and the rest using the magnets..the difference shows. Three years from now, I'll do a better job! All done...


Sorry for the generally poor pictures here. These are taken through the side panel, at an angle, showing the backside of the front panel. That is a terrible way to take pictures, but the only way to show the effects of the sanding.