HOW TO REMOVE SCRATCH ON GLASS TANK

[shrimpchips]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Acrylic is IMPOSIBLE to remove scratches from, it is way to soft.

No it's not - it's actually much easier than to buff out scratches in glass.

[sphelps]

Originally Posted by shrimpchips

No it's not - it's actually much easier than to buff out scratches in glass.

Agreed, very easy indeed and you can even repair scratches on the inside with the tank full. You can buy a kit from J&L, I've used this one before and it works well, you just can't use the final polish on the inside with the tank full but you usually don't need to.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...uct_ID=cl-asrk

For glass you can get a polishing compound but it will only work on very mild scratches, basically if you can barely see it and you can't feel it with your fingernail you might be able to buff it out but the compounds will likely not be safe to use on the inside of a full tank. If you can feel the scratch there's not much you can do.

[ultreef]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Agreed, very easy indeed and you can even repair scratches on the inside with the tank full. You can buy a kit from J&L, I've used this one before and it works well, you just can't use the final polish on the inside with the tank full but you usually don't need to.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...uct_ID=cl-asrk

For glass you can get a polishing compound but it will only work on very mild scratches, basically if you can barely see it and you can't feel it with your fingernail you might be able to buff it out but the compounds will likely not be safe to use on the inside of a full tank. If you can feel the scratch there's not much you can do.

Cerium oxide is the compound used to polish glass. Plus a rotary buff with wool pad. And a lot of elbow grease. Compound is not reef safe!!!

If you can feel the scratch with your nails, then it's gonna be there forever.

[globaldesigns]

Yup, nothing you can do

You can drain it, and have someone use a tool to polish, but then you will probably see it still and this can create a weak point.

Scratches are a fact of life when cleaning, just take your time and go slow, making sure you don't catch anything in the cleaning magnet that can cause damage.

Starfire is easier to scratch than normal glass, another reason I myself don't use acrylic or starfire. I would probably commit suicide with the scratches I have seen on these 2 types.

I hope the scratch isn't too big!

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by sphelps

Agreed, very easy indeed and you can even repair scratches on the inside with the tank full. You can buy a kit from J&L, I've used this one before and it works well, you just can't use the final polish on the inside with the tank full but you usually don't need to.
http://www.jlaquatics.com/phpstore/s...uct_ID=cl-asrk

For glass you can get a polishing compound but it will only work on very mild scratches, basically if you can barely see it and you can't feel it with your fingernail you might be able to buff it out but the compounds will likely not be safe to use on the inside of a full tank. If you can feel the scratch there's not much you can do.

Well I'm glad someone could give more details here. I asked some time ago about this and was told it could not be done

[Doug]

Originally Posted by Reefpins10

I scratched the inside of my starfire glass when I was doing a huge clean up today. Does someone know what kind of stuff I can use to remove those scratches inside without emptying the tank ?

I asked on several boards and nothing that would work well came from it. I scratched the viewing side on my 1 day old 180 starfire cube. Pretty well wrecked the tank. The only reasonable solution was to replace the starfire front glass.

I just kept my stuff in it for awhile and left it with the house when I sold it. They use it for a winter home for their pond fish.

[untamed]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Acrylic is IMPOSIBLE to remove scratches from, it is way to soft.

What? That isn't accurate. I routinely remove scratches from my acrylic all the time. Every couple of years I polish entire panels.

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by untamed

What? That isn't accurate. I routinely remove scratches from my acrylic all the time. Every couple of years I polish entire panels.

Ok already, so I have been misinformed by several people and a couple glass shops. I stand corrected AGAIN.

[globaldesigns]

Originally Posted by The Grizz

Ok already, so I have been misinformed by several people and a couple glass shops. I stand corrected AGAIN.

I do think anything can be polished, but do we want to drain a tank for this. I for one do not.... Also polishing does remove material, in time maybe creating a weak point.

I was told for glass they use something called a Rose Wheel... I may be incorrect, but this is what I recall.

[The Grizz]

Originally Posted by globaldesigns

I do think anything can be polished, but do we want to drain a tank for this. I for one do not.... Also polishing does remove material, in time maybe creating a weak point.

I was told for glass they use something called a Rose Wheel... I may be incorrect, but this is what I recall.

You are correct Rick, it is called a rose wheel, I asked about it at Concepts. I do know that glass can be polished and it can be very expensive. I was refering to the part about polishing acrylic was told it could not be done but I stand corrected TWICE