Preventing scratches on glass

Blinky

Blinky

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Jun 22, 2004
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Wondering if anyone has any tips for keeping glass scratch-free. I just set up my 65g, and discovered today there's a scratch near one corner - I have no idea how it got there, I've been really careful (one of the things I can't stand looking at is a scratched tank - it's like listening to a sqeaky filter, drives me nuts).
I bought a special glass cleaner, the kind that's magnetic. I make sure there's nothing between the pad and the glass (don't want to use it as an etching tool!) but it seems that somehow I missed something, and the result is a 1.5" line I can't get rid of :(.
 
I will never use a magnetic glass cleaner again. It seems that no matter how careful you are, there will always be a little grain of sand or something that hangs on and ruins your tank. I use a credit card (actually a Kroger Plus grocery card:)) to scrape the inside of my tank. I'll take a wet arm to avoid the scratches.
 
You should see the glass on my 55g tank :rolleyes: scratches all over the place.
 
christopher1260 said:
I will never use a magnetic glass cleaner again. It seems that no matter how careful you are, there will always be a little grain of sand or something that hangs on and ruins your tank. I use a credit card (actually a Kroger Plus grocery card:)) to scrape the inside of my tank. I'll take a wet arm to avoid the scratches.
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A wet arm is totally fine with me! A credit card doesn't scratch? I'll dig out my old student card and see how that works then - I'm terrified I'm going to ruin this tank. It's still so new, the last thing I want to do is scratch the heck out of it.
Thanks for the replies :D
[edit] I was just sitting here grumbling inside my head that the thing cost $18.99 and now I'll probably never use it again - how silly is that? The tank was far more expensive, and keeping it nice is more important than making use of the glass cleaner![/edit]
 
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Even better than an old credit card are the blue plastic "fake" credit cards that come in those Discovery Card pre-approved credit card offers. They have just the right combination of flexibility and hardness to make a really good algae scraper, and unlike a real credit card, they won't delaminate.

(Who'd have thought junk mail could actually serve a useful purpose? :D )
 
I was wondering why the glass scratched so easily. I'd think you'd have to really do something noticeable to scratch it. Or was it already scratched? I pull out my lava rock cave, I'm never too careful and sometimes it clunks the glass but no noticeable scratches. Could your tank be acrylic? Someone told me there are different qualities in aquarium glass, thickness etc...

I just figured if it holds water it works for me.

Hospital card works as a glass cleaner too, if you have an old one. ;)
 
I have used my magnetic glass cleaner for over a year now with no scratches whatsoever, but that is just my case. If you are thinking of throwing it out, I'll come and pick it up :) - I live in the GTA too.

Ask Slipknottin about this. He mentioned some household products (like toothpaste) that conatain a certain product (cerilium?) that can be used like a polish to take out scratches.
 
Sorry to dissapoint you guys, I'm not ready to get rid of it - this is a brand new tank! The scratch in question is small, I just wanted to make sure I wasn't accidentally doing something that would cause more. I'm starting to wonder if the scratch was there when I got the tank, and I just didn't notice it until now.
My old 45g has some fine scratches, but that's because I used the wrong type of sponge to clean some really tough algae off the glass - I had to learn the hard way, and now I'm a bit paranoid!

Swimfins - it's a Perfecto glass tank. I can vouch for the fact that it's not acrylic, I helped carry it ;)

Kasakato & Matak - I'm selling my old 45g, stand and sliding glass top, feel free to make me an offer :D
I put an ad in the classifieds - I've got filters, plastic plants and gravel too.
 
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