New to acrylic tanks.

[rodriguezj]

Hello everyone! I’m new to acrylic tanks! Recently bought a 350 gallon tank from the marketplace. Wanted to get options. Tank holds water but are these any concerns? There’s some crazing. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[KrisReef]

don't use harsh chemicals to clean acrylic, including ammonia, vinegar, and solvents.

Your tank will not likely fail from this light crazing, but it may get worse over time which is sad.

https://lobsterlife.com/2023/01/23/crazing-what-is-it/

 

[rodriguezj]

Thank you for the prompt response. I plan on getting this buffed out. Do you think that would be safe?

 

[mpatterson42]

Congrats on the tank! I live in Phoenix and saw that as well and begged my wife to let me get it but she refused.

This is a good guide to removing scratches from an acrylic aquarium.

https://www.titanaquaticexhibits.com/how-to-remove-scratches-from-acrylic-aquarium/

 

[KrisReef]

Thank you for the prompt response. I plan on getting this buffed out. Do you think that would be safe?

No, buffing can make it worse! The cracks are likely to ( WIll, is my understanding) expand from the heat stress generated by the buffing action.

I have done a few projects with acrylic and the only thing that can be buffed out is/ are scratches. The scratches are visible because of the light disruption in the damaged surface. Buffing removes nearby healthy material, rounding off the edges so that the light doesn’t deflect and cause the damage to be visible.

Crazing is unhealthy material that propagates from heat and stress. It will get worse, and I should have said that in my first reply back to you.

The tank is probably good for another 10 to 50 years as it is.

 

[rodriguezj]

It has a few scratches, can I buff out only the scratch area and avoid the seam area?

 

[rodriguezj]

Congrats on the tank! I live in Phoenix and saw that as well and begged my wife to let me get it but she refused.

This is a good guide to removing scratches from an acrylic aquarium.

https://www.titanaquaticexhibits.com/how-to-remove-scratches-from-acrylic-aquarium/

Nice! You saw the same post? I took my wife to check it out lol it was a good price to pass on. Hoping I don’t encounter any problems with the crazing.

 

[KrisReef]

Nice! You saw the same post? I took my wife to check it out lol it was a good price to pass on. Hoping I don’t encounter any problems with the crazing.

Yes to scratches, they are a different injury compared to crazing.

Over heating during buffing can cause crazing, so keep the work area wet, go slow and avoid friction!

I buffed out a tank once, but the second time I tried I ruined the piece because I thought it was easy after my first successs. It is an art, be an careful artist!

 

[rodriguezj]

Yes to scratches, they are a different injury compared to crazing.

Over heating during buffing can cause crazing, so keep the work area wet, go slow and avoid friction!

I buffed out a tank once, but the second time I tried I ruined the piece because I thought it was easy after my first successs. It is an art, be a careful artist!

So let me ask you, would it be safe to buff the whole tank and just be extra careful with the crazing area around the seams? I don’t plan on doing it my self. I’m probably gonna hire someone to come do it. Don’t want to ruin this tank.

 

[mpatterson42]

Nice! You saw the same post? I took my wife to check it out lol it was a good price to pass on. Hoping I don’t encounter any problems with the crazing.

Yeah, really good price, you'll have to set up a tank thread to track the progress! My wife stood firm at a tank no longer than 6 feet, even though the wall we're putting it on is 12 feet.

 

[rodriguezj]

Yeah, really good price, you'll have to set up a tank thread to track the progress! My wife stood firm at a tank no longer than 6 feet, even though the wall we're putting it on is 12 feet.

That would’ve been a perfect fit! I have a 14 foot wall so this was a great fit for us.

 

[KrisReef]

So let me ask you, would it be safe to buff the whole tank and just be extra careful with the crazing area around the seams? I don’t plan on doing it my self. I’m probably gonna hire someone to come do it. Don’t want to ruin this tank.

If you are going to get professional help (buffing) then I would let them guide you when they are looking at the work that needs to be done. If they say they can buff out the seams then I wouldn't let them touch a scratch if it was my tank. ( I hope this makes sense?)
How many scratches are you looking to have buffed out? Many of these blemishes on the wet side of a tank are not all that visible when the tank is filled.

 

[spaceman14]

If you know the manufacturer of the tank you should contact them. Scratches are one thing, but something on the seam could eventually cause a problem, and 350gal is a lot of water. My Clarity plus had some crazing on one of the seams and I put some warm water in it recently and it developed a fracture in the seam.