tank scratch nightmare

[malibupam]

My really helpful husband decided to clean some of the algae off the side of our acrylic 250 with the magnet. Before I had a chance to say, "wait, watch out for scratches!" he'd already swept the thing back and forth twice, several feet, leaving a nice scratch on the outside from who knows what. The fish guy came over a few days later, admired the scratch, and left me a scratch removal kit with the several grades of sandpaper to gradually work it out. He started the sanding to show me how, leaving a foot long sanded area, then left. I set the kit down, unable to face this daunting task, and decided to get to it later. Big mistake. Evidentlymy really helpful 4 yr old daughter had been watching, and after I left the room, she took one of the pieces of sandpaper and wiped a 3 foot long bouncing swirl accross the other side of the tank. :scared:
Before I set to it, is there anything I need to know about scratch removal kits? Like, call a real professional so I don't make it worse, or anything like that? :help:
I'm sure this will be funny one day

 

[jkvjl]

I can't help out with a answer but I have to tell you how "SORRY" I'm to here this. I hope it works out.:nervous:

 

[tony detroit]

I feel your pain. Buy the Kent Marine Aquascraper 36'' with the red blade. Much faster and no more scratches. Mag cleaners don't cut it for acrylic tanks. I got ridda mine after scratching my tank for the second time.
There was a guy on another forum that had let his neighbors kids watch the tank while he was outside cleaning his car and they had gravel stuck between the magnets and totally desimated his front panel. For that reason as well, I put my mag cleaner away and just use the scraper now.

 

[goldenboy]

What kind of magnet were you using?

 

[malibupam]

Originally posted by goldenboy
What kind of magnet were you using?
It's a magfloat. We think a little metal filing got onto it. There was a lot of welding going on in my house a few months ago when the tank was set up (we're the Under the Sea episode of Monster House) and the magnet might have picked one up when I wasn't looking. But, I couldn't find anything on the magnet after it happened, so who knows?

 

[goldenboy]

yeah, I use a magfloat and I never had a problem. I'm sorry to here your trouble. I hope everything works out.

 

[jkvjl]

That was your house, VERY COOL. I love that show. That's the house were that had like the front of a boat hanging in the house they made it.VERY COOL

 

[karajay]

Originally posted by MalibuPam
He started the sanding to show me how, leaving a foot long sanded area, then left.
How did that sanded part turn out? OK?

 

[malibupam]

Originally posted by karajay
How did that sanded part turn out? OK?
He only started it. Evidently, you need to work your way down through the different strengths of sand paper, so I have another 4 pieces of sand paper (in descending coarseness) to work over it before it can be polished away. So now, there is just a 12" by 4" sanded mess on the side of the tank. To be perfectly honest, I'm scared to make it worse.

 

[malibupam]

Originally posted by jkvjl
That was your house, VERY COOL. I love that show. That's the house were that had like the front of a boat hanging in the house they made it.VERY COOL
You must mean our submarine viewing platform. We also ended up with the periscope, and the 250. It's been up 4 months now, and all the fish are doing well. I wish I could say the same about the acrylic. :happyfish

 

[karajay]

I would give it a shot. Maybe just try a small spot to see how it goes. Doesn't sound like it could get much worse in the area where the sanding was started.
At least it didn't scratch the inside.

 

[jkvjl]

Did the periscope have a digital screen?

 

[malibupam]

Originally posted by jkvjl
Did the periscope have a digital screen?
That's the one. It is really an lcd monitor attached to a security-style camera on the deck above my office, with a remote control panning feature.