Scratches on glass tank

[gcfiend]

Hello FRAG! Finally joining the ranks. Bought a 110 Gal Tall (used) . I bought the tank, stand, canopy, lights and basically everything to start a reef for pretty cheap.

But as with used item it's not all perfect. Have some scratches on the view sides of the tank. Tried filling it with water and turning on the lights hoping the scratches wouldn't be noticeable but alas my obsessive\compulsive nature won't let it go.

Did some research and I heard of other having some luck with cerium oxide. Just order 1\2 lb worth.

Was wonder if anyone has ever worked with this stuff before and offer any tips or tricks or just good old fashion advise.

Thanks!

[paljets]

Found this..

Hope it helps.


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Polishing Scratches Out of Glass

We are "rock people" and not "glass people". Therefore, we do not know anything about glass other than what is on this page.

Please don't call us up or email us with any questions about glass polishing, because all the information we have is on this page.

Cerium oxide is the polish of choice for glass. Before you can polish scratches out of glass, you must first determine how deep the scratches are. If you can feel a scratch as you run your fingernail across it, the scratch is too deep to be polished out with cerium oxide. You must first grind the scratch out.

The grit used to grind out the scratch will depend on the depth of the scratch. It is best to use the finest grit you can to grind out a scratch. I suggest starting with 2000 grit. If that is too slow, go to 1500 or 1200 grit and if it is still grinding too slowly, try 600 grit. However, after grinding with 600 grit, you will have to re-grind with 1200/1500 and then again with 2000 grit to remove scratches from the coarser grits. Only then, can the glass be polished with cerium oxide. NOTE: Grinding of glass can create an undesirable lens effect.

An easy way to grind out the scratches is to use silicon carbide sandpaper (the black sandpaper available at hardware stores or auto body shop supply houses) with water as a lubricant. After grinding, carefully clean off the area you ground with water and clean off your tools before going to the next finer grit. It's best to use an attachment on a drill, or an electric buffer.

Mix cerium oxide with water to create a slurry that's the same consistency as milk. Put the slurry on spinning buffing pad. Harder buffing pads made out of hard felt, or leather work best. The polishing action will be fastest when the cerium oxide is damp, but not dry, or runny wet. Fill a spray bottle with water and use it to keep the area you are polishing damp.

Glass is relatively easy to polish. Therefore, you don't need to use the more expensive 99.9% cerium. Instead, the less expensive 90% Optical grade will work fine. We have been told that 99.9% cerium works much faster than 90% on tempered glass.

Cerium oxide is listed on our polishes page and can be ordered on our secure form.

[gcfiend]

Thanks PalJets. Thats who I bought my cerium oxide from LOL.

They're in Tuscon. Cheap too $20 for 1/2 lb. And they're serious when the say that "We are "rock people" and not "glass people".

I spoke with someone there and ask for advise and he said it verbatium. I googled the crap out of the stuff and they were the only ones I could find it from.

Well, hope it works. I'll post some before and after. Good looking out.

[dgill]

gcfiend, you also need a quality felt wheel and high-speed drill to apply the Cerium Oxide, don't skimp on felt wheel otherwise you will only add swirls and scatches vs. polishing... here is the kit I just used to remove some fine scratches from glass. Don't press hard, let the Cerium Oxide work its magic: http://www.caswellplating.com/buffs/glass.htm

[gcfiend]

Thanks dgill. I tried forever to get the scratches out.. I gave up. I ended up selling the 110 on craigslist and buying a new 90 Gal.

Not as easy as I though it would be.

[dgill]

Congratulations, nothing better than a new tank!

Removing scratches does work, but you need a high speed drill at 2000+ rpm, or a polishing tool.

This company supposedly has a process that works by hand but I haven't tried it yet: http://www.scratchpolish.com/

[glassguy]

follow the directions above...they're right on.
Lots of patience helps too!

[gcfiend]

glassguy,
Where were you when I need you!! And in my backyard!! Thanks for the advise.

If I dork up this tank at least I know what I need to do. I still have the cerium oxide