WMAS Discussion Forum : Cleaning Acrylic http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ Copyright (c) 2006-2013 Web Wiz Forums - All Rights Reserved. Mon, 29 Jun 2026 16:05:49 +0000 Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:58:12 +0000 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Web Wiz Forums 12.03 360 www.utahreefs.com/forum/RSS_post_feed.asp?TID=59193 <![CDATA[WMAS Discussion Forum]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/1by1.gif http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/ <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : No I am asking if I can sand the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486914&title=cleaning-acrylic#486914 Author: Tanuki
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 2:58pm

No I am asking if I can sand the scratches out of the acrylic after I clean it.  I am not going to sand the scum into the glass. ]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 14:58:12 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486914&title=cleaning-acrylic#486914 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : The problem with sanding the coraline...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486895&title=cleaning-acrylic#486895 Author: builderofdreams
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 12:49pm

The problem with sanding the coraline or whatever it is, it is going to get caught in between the sand paper and the acrlyc. Now you just turned the 6000 into a 1 grit sand paper=Scratch.
Without polishing out the 6000 grit scratches it will cause what i call a Spiderweb Effect.
If you are happy with the look of what you did the first time then by all means go right ahead.
Not trying to say you can't just not the way i remove scratches from Acrylic.
]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:49:57 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486895&title=cleaning-acrylic#486895 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : Thanks Cody, I appreciate the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486893&title=cleaning-acrylic#486893 Author: Tanuki
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 12:37pm

Thanks Cody, I appreciate the info.  ]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:37:50 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486893&title=cleaning-acrylic#486893 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : Most automotive body shop supply...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486889&title=cleaning-acrylic#486889 Author: Cody
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 12:26pm

Most automotive body shop supply stores sell 6000 grit wet/dry sand paper. I bet if there were no chemicals used and you just used the water as a lubricant you could get em out.

Also you could take a wood dowel and cut a slit in the end and jam that subway card in the end of it so that you wouldn't have to get your hands in the tank and you could prob reach hard to reach areas. ]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 12:26:32 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486889&title=cleaning-acrylic#486889 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : I was cleaning it daily, but the...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486876&title=cleaning-acrylic#486876 Author: Tanuki
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 11:37am

I was cleaning it daily, but the mag float just wasn't strong enough I suppose.  The tank has great corraline growth though, always has. 

What do you mean by "You cannot polish the scratches back out?"  Do you mean that doing so will hurt the fish?  I sanded the tank when I bought it.  Depending on which grit you use, you don't have to use a polish on it.  So I am confident that it can be sanded, but I am more worried about the pollutants.
]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:37:56 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486876&title=cleaning-acrylic#486876 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : Tanuki wrote:I tried using...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486866&title=cleaning-acrylic#486866 Author: builderofdreams
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 11:00am

Originally posted by Tanuki Tanuki wrote:

I tried using a subway card last night and it did wonders.  I will clear the tank tonight and then see about using some of these others.

Also could I sand some of the small scratches while there is life in the tank, or am I going to overly pollute the water?
I know its a bit late but one of the best ways to clean it is not allowing it to build up in the first place.
Clean it daily wheather it needs it or not.
Most LFS sell plastic scraper blades for Acrlyc.
You can use a new kitchen sponge that has a little texture to it. Make sure there is no other chemicals in it of course.
Oh  by the way do not Sand the tank at all. You cannot polish the scratches back out. Don't worry about over polluting the tank.Scraping coraline into the water( while the filtration system is off) is an easy and cheap way to get the coraline to grow faster.
]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 11:00:42 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486866&title=cleaning-acrylic#486866 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : Just curious if you are using...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486864&title=cleaning-acrylic#486864 Author: 1stupidpunk
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 10:53am

Just curious if you are using any sort of phosphate remover? I understand it wont totally eliminate the need to clean the tank but since installing my phosban reactor i have much less algae growth on my tank. I ditched my acrylic for glass after attempting to spend hours cleaning and buffing out scratches.]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:53:42 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486864&title=cleaning-acrylic#486864 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : I tried using a subway card last...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486859&title=cleaning-acrylic#486859 Author: Tanuki
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 26 2012 at 10:42am

I tried using a subway card last night and it did wonders.  I will clear the tank tonight and then see about using some of these others.

Also could I sand some of the small scratches while there is life in the tank, or am I going to overly pollute the water?
]]> Wed, 26 Sep 2012 10:42:20 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486859&title=cleaning-acrylic#486859 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-...]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486640&title=cleaning-acrylic#486640 Author: tileman
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 24 2012 at 5:31pm

http://www.amazon.com/Plastic-Double-Edged-Blades-Scraper/dp/B004623NU2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1348529497&sr=8-1&keywords=plastic+razor+blades]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:31:41 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486640&title=cleaning-acrylic#486640 <![CDATA[Cleaning Acrylic : You can buy plastic razor blades....]]> http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486639&title=cleaning-acrylic#486639 Author: 19cobra93
Subject: 59193
Posted: September 24 2012 at 5:18pm

You can buy plastic razor blades. I don't know where, but I've seen them, and they're really good at scraping coraline off acrylic without scratching the glass.]]> Mon, 24 Sep 2012 17:18:31 +0000 http://www.utahreefs.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=59193&PID=486639&title=cleaning-acrylic#486639