Question on Cleaning Acrylic..

[Markstr]

I picked up an Acrylic Tank (used) the other day.. It has been setting for
some time with a bunch of Gravel in it and has developed a bunch of "Coating" like, on the acrylic from the bottom ( which had an undergravel filter btw) and is up on the walls of the tank as well.
I've started to get "Hot Water" on it to loosen up this whatever that is on it
but it is being real Stubborn..
Any Suggestions as to a good CLEANER for this?? Can I use a Plastic
Scraper or something to try and Remove it ?? I know I don't want to go to
Abraisive on it and wind up scratching it much worse.....
Any Suggestion here would be appreciated !!

 

[apollothesun]

i heard mueratic acid works well. can get it at any home improvement store. just make sure you rinse well. good luck

 

[Curtswearing]

http://www.google.com/search?q=BRILLIANIZE&sourceid=navclient-ff&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1B3GGGL_en___US271

 

[Markstr]

That link goes to Tap Plastics "Brilliantizer" products but I've called them direct and
Since were Dealing here with like "Mineral Deposites" they don't have anything that
will handle that According to the Gal I talked with...
That is geared towards light duty applications I guess..

 

[Markstr]

I've also heard that Vinager might work..........
This Tank has been used for Freshwater only and it just has a large build up of
Deposits which I would like to try to Break Down and then clean etc..
Would

 

[Curtswearing]

White vinegar works well. It will dissolve the hard water deposits in the tank. After you clean it, Brillianize will polish the acrylic well.

 

[Markstr]

Yes, (Curtswearing ) I did just that and thanks everyone for the heads up on this..
The Vinegar took it right off for sure..
On the Brillianize, do you just work it in with a Cloth or do you have to use a Buffer ?
I don't have any on hand actually but I do have some Novus ...
There is a "Haze" on this but once you fill the water it does go away.
I wouldn't mind trying to get that Haze off though.........

 

[Curtswearing]

Brillianize works best with a soft cloth diaper. Works even better with microfiber cloths. A buffer is not needed.

 

[krisfal]

I was very pleased with the novus products I bought last weekend. My tank had been scraped along the wall during the whole tank build process (Squeezing a 94 inch tank into a 94 5/8" room). I used novus #2 to remove the light scratching from scraping on the wall and then novus #1 to clean the entire tank. The scratches came out with a minimum of effort with the novus #2 and the polish/cleaner (novus #1) shined up the entire tank and has left it more resistant to collecting dust. I used some disposable lint free cloths for applying the product and a microfiber cloth for the final polishing.

 

[NC2WA]

Kris,

Was this done while water was in the tank? OR did you have to drain the tank below the level of the scratches??

Kirk

 

[cr8signs]

Kris,
I am also interested in your results. My acrylic tank is full of scratches on the inside. Does one have to completely drain the tank, fix and rinse well, then add fish/corals again, or is this something that should only be used on the outside of the tank? And never on the inside.

 

[Curtswearing]

Kris,
I am also interested in your results. My acrylic tank is full of scratches on the inside. Does one have to completely drain the tank, fix and rinse well, then add fish/corals again, or is this something that should only be used on the outside of the tank? And never on the inside.

You can use it on the inside if you drain it completely and rinse well after you are done.

 

[krisfal]

Kris,

Was this done while water was in the tank? OR did you have to drain the tank below the level of the scratches??

Kirk

I just did the outside.