I need help to repair my fish tank

**born2blove** · 08-10-2010, 06:54 AM

Hi all

I spend a lot of time to repair my fish tank.
I spend $15 at wood craft for Micro Mesh regular pack it came with 1500, 1800,2400,3200,3600 4000, 6000, 8000 and 12000.
I spend Novus #3 $14 at fish store
I spend policy machine at home depot $25 and $ sand paper Sand wet 600.

What I have been done with my fish tank
first i clean up very well and use Novus 3 with buffer machine i buy at home depot to buffer it after 3 hour buffer it I take it out to clean and fill with water, I see all the scratches still there. I use Micro Mesh 1500 to try to remove the scratch but it not help. I ran to home depot looking for 800 sand wet, but the maximum they have only 600. I take 600 sand wet paper home and remove the scratch under water ( I can see the scratched better with water fill) it work good the scratches gone but now i took the water out let it dry and see what happen to my fish tank.
I am suck

Now what happen to my fish tank?

I just place an order 2oz set Novus #1, 2, 3 at Amazon $10

I still have half of 8oz Novus #3 left.

Please help me how to make it look good

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-10-2010, 07:05 AM

Holy cow, you used a buffer on an acrylic tank? I see no way of repairing that. There is a liquid you put on acrylic for scratch removal.

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-10-2010, 07:10 AM

http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod...713_a_7c199038

**BIO-Linist** · 08-10-2010, 09:50 AM

Lady Hobbs, what are you talking about. As long as the acrylic is not cut very deeply, scratches and cloudiness can be removed simply. but it just takes a long time.

Born3blove,
The pictures are too far away to tell, but if I'm reading your post correctly, the haze is from the wet sanding with the 600 grit sandpaper, not from buffing. If so, you're actually on the right track. The next thing to do is try buffing again with the Novus 3 and see if that will remove the haze. If so, continue buffing with the Novus 3 until a uniform dull shine is achieved. If not, try wet sanding with the micro mesh 1500 until the haze from the 600 is removed. Then try buffing again. If that doesn't work, continue wet sanding with finer and finer grits of micro mesh until buffing can work properly.

After buffing with novus 3, it will not be completely shiny. You have to follow up by polishing with novus 2.

Instructions from Novus website http://www.novuspolish.com/polish-product03-content.htm

Novus 3 Heavy Scratch Remover
Removes heavy scratches and abrasions from most acrylic surfaces. Use when damage is too severe to be restored with NOVUS No. 2 polish.

* Requires use of NOVUS No. 2 for final finishing
* Not recommended for use on coated plastics

1. Shake well. Test in an inconspicuous area.
2. Apply NOVUS No. 3 liberally. Using a clean, soft cloth, polish with a firm back-and-forth motion at right angles to the scratches. Keep the cloth saturated with polish at all times.
3. Continue polishing until only fine scratches remain. Using cloth, remove all remaining polish, this is very important!
4. Using a clean cloth, apply NOVUS No. 2 in a circular motion uniformly to entire surface. Polish using light pressure until NOVUS No. 2 dries to a light haze.
5. Using a clean portion of the cloth, buff the surface clean. Follow with NOVUS No. 1 for best results.

**BIO-Linist** · 08-10-2010, 10:17 AM

Novus 2 instructions from Novus website

http://www.novuspolish.com/polish-product02-content.htm

Novus 2 fine scratch remover

Removes fine scratches, haziness and abrasions from most plastics. With repeated use, NOVUS No. 2 restores faded and discolored plastics.

* Removes the damage instead of filling it in
* Buffs out quickly
* After restoring, seals with a coat of polish

1. Observe condition of the surface to be treated. The deeper the scratches, the greater the pressure required to remove them. If the surface is dirty, clean with NOVUS No.1 before applying NOVUS No. 2.
2. Shake well. Test in an inconspicuous area.
3. Apply NOVUS No. 2 liberally. Using a clean, soft cloth, polish with a firm back-and-forth motion at right angles to the scratches. Keep the cloth saturated with polish at all times.
4. When the worst scratches have been polished out, reapply NOVUS No.2 uniformly in a circular motion to the entire surface using short, circular strokes and light pressure. Allow to dry to a light haze.
5. Using a clean portion of the cloth, buff the surface to a slippery glaze using firm, short strokes. This procedure is imperative in achieving the best results.
6. For heavy scratches, multiple applications of NOVUS No. 2 or application of NOVUS No. 3 may be required.
7. Follow with NOVUS No. 1 for best results.

**gadget228** · 08-10-2010, 11:22 AM

Agree with above posts that your not done polishing yet. Finish polishing is best done by hand unless you have a buffer with rpm's under 600 and a pad made for buffing acrylic. Your tank isn't ruined, you just have a lot of hours buffing by hand ahead of you.

**Lady Hobbs** · 08-10-2010, 01:55 PM

Originally Posted by BIO-Linist

Lady Hobbs, what are you talking about. As long as the acrylic is not cut very deeply, scratches and cloudiness can be removed simply. but it just takes a long time.

I saw I had been in error is why I added my second post with the link for polishing stuff. I sure didn't think you could use a buffer on a fish tank but see I was off base there.

**Northernguy** · 08-10-2010, 02:05 PM

It is easier to polish a scratch out of acrylic then it is with glass but doing it right is the hard part.It takes a lot of time and patience.Not something you can rush through.
Good Luck and try to take your time with it.

**Scrup** · 08-10-2010, 04:34 PM

I use a soft washcloth and novus #2 on mine. Got out some deep gouges and the foggyness from using sand paper.

Lots of elbow grease required though.

**born2blove** · 08-10-2010, 04:41 PM

Thank you so much for all help.
I stop after I use Sand Wet 600, after that I did not do any thing yet.
I will try buffer again with Novus #3.
I return the buffers machine I get from home depot, I think that machine not the right one that why I return it.
This is the picture Buffer Machine I use from home depot

http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1...atalogId=10053

Last time I use 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System to remove repair my Honda accord headlight I still have the soft orange foam for drill can I use it for Buffer.

Any buffer machine you guy has been use please let me know?

Thank You