So, I went to one of the LFS's today at lunch just to check it out, and I
picked up a SeaScope (free little pamphlet with short articles on reef
keeping) and believe it or not, it had an article about buffing plexiglass
tanks. Now, I am assuming that the procedure is the same for an acrylic as
it is for a plexi, or I am hoping it is. Basically, he recommends grit sizes
for the sandpaper, starting at 400 and ending at 2500. He talks about doing
it with the tank full of water, so he uses magnets instead of a sanding
block or drill, and he uses the Novus on the outside of the tank only. Any
ways, he goes into some detail on the whole thing, and it sounds fairly
easy. A bit time consuming, as you mentioned, but not to hard.
I do have a question. Since I will be doing this w/o water in the tank, I
can use the novus. Do I use the novus and the sand paper together, or will I
use the novus and a pad, then use the sandpaper separately? Sounds like a
silly question, but I really have no idea. I am guessing that I will use the
400 grit sandpaper, then separately, use the novus, then go up a couple
grades of paper, then use the fine scratch novus, then finish off with the
high grit sandpapers. Up to 2500 (is what he talks about). That should buff
that sucker out huh?? It does have some deep scratches. Real deep. Looks
like someone got a piece of substrate caught in the cleaning tool, and
rubbed it around on the front of the tank a bit before noticing it.
Thanks again!
Shane
PS. My wife was very happy to hear that someone from the list agreed with
her :-)
-----Original Message-----
From: Ron Earl [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 1:30 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Used tank...
once again this really depends on how bad the scratches are. I
would start
out with a sponge type of pad and try using novus #3 as the
compound. if
this isn't abrasive enough we use a cloth wheel (its a white one
I'll ask to
see where we get them from) that's about six inches in diameter. as
far as
the compound that we use with this we use hard compound that comes
in a
stick. we use stuff that's either black or orange (again I'll have
to check
where we get this). This is really only necessary for deeper
scratches and
if this still doesn't take them out you'll have to sand them out. I
would
recommend a micromesh kit that you should be able to get at you
local pet
shop or plastic factory. I know we sell these. you can start as
low as 400
grit and work your way up and finish it off with a quick buff. If
you can't
find one of these kits or the novus (which is also available at most
pet
shops / plastics shops let me know and I can give you my work phone
and you
can buy it from them.
ron
----- Original Message -----
From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, June 20, 2001 2:07 PM
Subject: RE: Used tank...
> Thanks for the details on the buffing. I have the drill. I can buy
a pad,
> but do you know the particular type of pad and what exact
compound(s) to
> use? I really really do not want to ruin it, or make it worse.
Time is not
a
> problem. The tank is full now, and wont even be available until
end of
> November. I wont be moving into the house for a year, so I have
lots of
> time. I am just starting to get a plan of attack in line so I am
prepared
> when the tank comes available.
>
> TIA,
> Shane
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Ron Earl [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 8:26 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Used tank...
>
> just thought that I'd put in my two cents....
>
> the price is good or at least I'd say that he won't be
> screwing
> you.....as far as the price for a new canopy and to buff out the
> tank that's
> another story. I work for an aquarium co. and I don't know about
> retail
> prices but you should be able to get a conopy for around $200 not
> 300....and
> the price to buff the tank is way to much. As you probably know
> most all
> of the scratches will disappear when you fill it with water. they
> are
> relatively easy to fix...well actually there really easy to fix
just
> time
> consuming and you'll need some patience to make it look better and
> not
> worse. if the scratches are bad enough to need some sanding work
> make sure
> to keep the sander or sanding block flat not matter what!!!!! if
it
> just
> needs buffing just hook a buffing wheel up to a drill and use lots
> of
> compound and make sure to not buff in one spot for to long.. more
> or less
> that's how the "professionals" do it. lol
>
> good luck
>
> ron e.
> Ps
> Just today I made a "topless" canopy which I thought was a really
> good idea
> for anyone that wanted to cover up the water line etc. and still
> suspend MH
> lights or just keep the temp. of the tank down. this was also
save
> on the
> wallet
>
>
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Shane Clays" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 8:01 PM
> Subject: RE: Used tank...
>
>
> > Thanks. Sounds like a deal then huh? The shelf thing sounds like
a
> good
> > idea. My concern is making it look as nice as possible, or the
> wifee wont
> go
> > for it. My question on the shelf idea is does that then suspend
> totally
> > above the top of the tank? If that is so, that means I will have
a
> water
> > line going across the top of the tank. I do like the idea of
> having the
> > lights above the tank for heat issues though. It does have a
> canopy on it
> > right now. It is heavy (the stand and canopy are made of oak)
and
> it is
> > short (that's why I wouldn't be able to use it, couldn't fit MHs
> on it,
> even
> > now the VHOS he has on, it gets a ton of salt creep from water
> splash) so
> I
> > don't know if I could utilize it or not. Do you by any chance
have
> a pic
> of
> > the shelf system so I can have a visual? Not that I question the
> looks,
> but
> > would like to see how it is built.
> >
> > My thoughts on the whole pump thing is... I already have an
Iwaki
> 100 RLT.
> I
> > would probably use that to run my skimmer a couple of returns in
> the 70
> > gallon and then a few returns in the 170. Then, I would use my
mag
> 2400
> and
> > drill 3 surge returns on the bottom of the tank as well as 2 in
> the lower
> > back of the tank and 2 in the upper back, the split all of them
> with some
> > locline. The Iwaki would push a fair amount of water through the
> 170 while
> > proving a soft linear current in the 70, then the mag would
really
> create
> a
> > nice surge effect if allowed to run full blast. I would run that
> on a
> random
> > current with my Aquatroller. I would run my chiller with an
> additional mag
> > 1200, which would return directly to the sump. Hopefully, with
> that much
> > water, the chiller will not have to be used, because the chiller
> will have
> a
> > tough time cooling that much water.
> >
> > Next concern is lights. There are 4 vhos spanning the length of
> the tank.
> I
> > have 2 175 watt MHs I would transfer over. I would leave the 4
> vhos on the
> > 70 for the anemone. I think I will probably need to add another
> 250 watt
> mh.
> > Maybe go with the 175 watters on the ends, the 250 in the middle
> and then
> > the VHOs. That would give me 6 watts per gallon on the 170. Not
a
> ton, but
> I
> > think enough.
> >
> > So, buffing it out is not to tough huh? Great. That makes me
fell
> better.
> > Any tips???
> >
> > Thanks again!
> > Shane C.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > Sent: Tuesday, June 19, 2001 4:40 PM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Used tank...
> >
> > Hi, Shane. Hoping to encourage you to do the deal. 170 gallons
is
> a
> > lot of
> > tank, especially connected to your 70 gallon. Seems like a very
> > interesting
> > set-up. If the 170 is rectangular, you can simply build a shelf
> over
> > it and
> > mount the lights on the underside of the shelf. You can place
> light
> > things
> > for storage on top and put a nice looking trim around it for a
> more
> > professional look. You can do this by buying premachined boards
at
> > Home Depot
> > and mounting them on some inexpensive shelf brackets. The whole
> > project can
> > be done really well for under $100. You would need a good return
> > pump and for
> > a system that size an Iwaki WMD40XRLT would work very well.
These
> > are
> > available online for around $160 plus shipping and will
literally
> > run
> > forever. You can, of course, hard plum the entire system easily
> with
> > sched.
> > 40 PVC. I have about 500 gallons of systems on the second floor
of
> > our house.
> > The weight is not a problem as long as we don't add waterbeds!
You
> > should try
> > to put your tanks perpendicular to floor joists. Electrical
supply
> > is more of
> > a concern. You can very easily polish out the majority of
defects
> in
> > the
> > plexi by yourself for much less than $200. Go for it! HTH.
> > ________________________________________
> >
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