Morcs Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 I bought a magnet cleaner the other day. Never been a fan of them and always used an algae scouring pad once a week, but doing a quick daily scim of the glass without getting my hands wet was appealing and decided to give it a go. So this evening ive noticed long scratches on both sides of my 4ft. They are very visible, but cannot feel them. I made sure they arent just a mark which I could scrap off, definately scratches. Is there a way to polish them out easily? or is my tank buggered? (im a stickler for perfection) checked the cleaner itself, clean as, nothing caught in it that would cause the scrathes... Its one of those green roundish cleaners that animates are selling at the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 It's well buggered. well not unless you are willing to pay for polishing which involves emptying the tank and paying more than it is probably worth. that really sucks man. I always use really old ones with weaker magnets. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 its on the outside too, so the felt side of the cleaner If I stand 1m away I cant see them, but any closer and its whoa!!! Im going to try some toothpaste. Ah well, this tank is only temporary until I next move house so I can get a 4x2x2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Toothpaste didnt really work :lol: If the scratches can only only just be felt with a finger nail, is the glass going to be in jeopardy? considering there are about 4 full length scratches on both ends? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
phoenix44 Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 it wont break cause of them :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 anyone know if something like a windscreen chip repair type of product would work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 it wont break cause of them :lol: you sure? I mean, scratches are a weakness is glass, just like when glass cutting, you simply score it then then break it... and when a tank is full of water, its under a lot of pressure note: I have a tendancy to be paranoid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Is there a difference between the front and back of the tank? If not, shift the tank so the back is at the front Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 and move your paranoia to the back of your head i have 2 long scratches on the front of my 2m tank been there quite awhile now so long as you don't get a hard direct knock to the opposte side to the scratch you will be alright Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 anyone know if something like a windscreen chip repair type of product would work no Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
livingart Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 thank you for that direct answer barrie the scratches look like some one has run a ring along it :evil: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 14, 2009 Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 scratches on normal non toughened glass will not weaken it (note scratches not cuts) Scratches on TOUGHENED glass can weaken it as to toughen glass the outside surface is shrunk putting the inside under presure and therefore giving the glass tensile strenght. When the outside surface is scratched so that you can feel the mark with your finger nail, you have effectively weakened the outside surface and given the glass under presure a place to release that built up presure The reason that scratch repair will not work is that is dose not repair, it hides Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 14, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 14, 2009 Is there a difference between the front and back of the tank? If not, shift the tank so the back is at the front the scratches are on either end rather than the front or back. my back is so darkly tinted youd never see the fish if i turned it around Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bulldogod Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 Ive seen a guy from Novus working on glass bus shelters up the road for about a week now, hes removing all the scratched in graffitti. Dont know how hes doing it or how it works?Or if you could use same on tanks. (be easier to remove idiots who do the graffitti.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Barrie Posted October 15, 2009 Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 correct Bulldog That glass is 10mm toughened and costs about $250 per square meter when buying 100's of meters The cost of grinding a tank thats only probably 6mm thick could well cost 2 or $300 and need to be taken apart so that it can take the presure I too remove faint scratches and lay the glass flat on my table. It will often take 2 or 3 hours using jewllers rouge mixed to a paste and using a pure woollen buff ($75) on a slow drill You can buy a new tank for under what the costs will be but with the buss shelters and both the type of glass as well as the size, its only just possibly worth while removing the scratches The other thing to consider is that your grinding the surface of so a 6mm tank may well end up being 4 of 5 mm thick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 15, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 15, 2009 of so a 6mm tank may well end up being 4 of 5 mm thick which surely is below the safety factor for 350kg... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aquatopia Posted October 17, 2009 Report Share Posted October 17, 2009 You can buy diamond paste and polish it out but from the size of tank you have it would cost as much for the polish than the amount to replace a pane of glass. If its temporary only turn the tank around and view through the back panel And quit worrying about the scratches making it unsafe - its fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Floater Posted October 30, 2009 Report Share Posted October 30, 2009 To think I was going to buy one of those magnet cleaners. Thanks for the post! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Morcs Posted October 31, 2009 Author Report Share Posted October 31, 2009 To think I was going to buy one of those magnet cleaners. Thanks for the post! Im sure they are fine. I probably had a tiny tiny granual of sand on one side that I couldnt even see. You just have to be oh so vigilant when using them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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