Glass... Scratched

[paradigmcubed]

Do any of you guys know what I could use to remove scratches on the exterior of my tank?

Thanks, Jacob

[wetmanNY]

On the exterior you can use cerium oxide. keep it wet as you buff, or you'll add scratches instead of buffing them out.

[Matak]

So it would follow that if we drained our tanks, we can use the cerium oxide to remove scratches from the inside of the tank.

Couple of Q's about that: Is it toxic to fish, plants or beneficial micro organisms?
Where can we get this?

[kveeti]

As far as where to get it, one route I know of is:
Look in your yellow pages under "Lapidary Supplies", it is a powder that is used in the final tumbling process for people who shine up stones.

[wetmanNY]

John T. Fitch and a son-in-law emptied half the water from a 150 gallon tank, taped plastic film over the water to catch slurry and used cerium oxide and musclepower to buff out scratches-- with the fish still in the tank!-- successfully. Their illustrated adventure is a FAQ at the Boston Aquarium Society's site.

-from www.skepticalaquarist.com

I guess it's non-toxic, but I can't imagine having to do this!

[Matak]

Tanks, Kveeti. When I was young (before Wetmans first grey hairs :D ) I used to tumble rocks and I think I know of a couple of rock shops.

Wetman: I agree. I think if I were to do that, I would drain the tank down to the neccessary level, re-house the fish in a cooler with some of the original tank water for the couple of hours that it took to buff up the glass and then run a diatom filter for an hour or so to remove any cerium oxide residue. After all that, I would put the fish back in with about half the cooler water, then replace the missing water.

[wetmanNY]

...at least.

heh heh heh

[Zeb]

So, this really works? Makes the tank look near scratch free?

[paradigmcubed]

Since all the scratches are on the outside of my tank, I wouldn't need to drain any water, correct? Does it really work that well, and how much will does it cost?

Thanks

[wetmanNY]

www.google.com "buy cerium oxide"

[paradigmcubed]

How many pounds do you think I'd need for the front of a tank that has the dimensions, 4x3x2?

Thanks

[Matak]

Originally posted by paradigmcubed
How many pounds do you think I'd need for the front of a tank that has the dimensions, 4x3x2?

Thanks My guess is that it would be in the ounces, not pounds.

[wetmanNY]

Isn't that cerium oxide in Sof-Scrub? Whitening toothpaste has cerium oxide doesn't it? Isn't "jeweller's rouge" cerium oxide? Unconfirmed rumors...

I'd hit the aisles of the local Hobby Hovel...

[paradigmcubed]

http://www.facetingmachines.com/polishes.shtml

A pound is the max.