acrylic polishing - SE Michigan

[reeferdale]

Hi, I am hoping someone knows of company or fabricator in SE Michigan that knows how to polish out an acrylic reef tank. I just finished cleaning out the used 270 that I purchased over the winter. It is not in bad shape but before I build it out and then find scratches or marks,
I would really like to get the tank professionally buffed out before I begin my build.

I have tried my skills at sanding and buffing some spare sheet acrylic and based on the outcome, I would screw up this tank pretty bad if I tried to do it myself.

If anyone knows of a resource I could hire to come over and buff it out I would really appreciate it. I am finally ready to put this baby together and this is my last hold up

Thanks in advance

 

[Come Monday]

a quick google search produced this... they are in Detroit.
STELLAR PLASTICS, DETROIT, 14121 GRATIOT AVENUE

 

[reeferdale]

thanks - I called them. I have to take the tank into their shop. I am looking for an in home solution before I haul this tank out of the basement, to the shop, and then back down again. I am not even sure how much buffing it needs. I have it filled with water to soak since last week and I have just started to scrape off the old coraline and scum. Once this is done, I am going to light it up really bright to check out how much it needs to be polished, When I boight it, it was set up and did not look really bad at all. I figured by the time I am done cleaning it will be better to just buff it out now rather than finding out I have some scratches after I get it setup

 

[Airplanes]

I would go on the local board and ask I know tons of guys on there that do it.. If you need the address to it pm me.

 

[reeferdale]

Thanks,
I actually bought some acylic, messed it up and them just started working on it. Sanded 800, 1200, 2000, 3000 grit, then used an orbital buffer and the acrylic was better than when I bought it. So noe I am onto my tank. Doing the back first to test my skills - It seems reallyscary to totally scuff up your tank, but after doing it through an entire cycle ona test piece, it it really simple and easy to do

I would go on the local board and ask I know tons of guys on there that do it.. If you need the address to it pm me.

 

[SalinFL]

I have a question for you (reeferdale) about your tank. How long did you have your tank set up and are you happy with an acrylic tank over a glass tank? How often have you had to break down the whole tank to clean it? I am in the development stages of setting up a new reef tank and this is my number one stumbling block…. glass or acrylic?

 

[reeferdale]

I have a question for you (reeferdale) about your tank. How long did you have your tank set up and are you happy with an acrylic tank over a glass tank? How often have you had to break down the whole tank to clean it? I am in the development stages of setting up a new reef tank and this is my number one stumbling block…. glass or acrylic?

Actually, I bought it used in december and I jsut filled it for a leak test last week! (sad). I have just beem very busy. I am hoping in the next couple weeks I am going to be able to buff it out and get it setup, then xfer my 29 bio, 180 reef, 55 reef and 33 gal rock tank all into this new 270.

To your question, after filling it I see that there are many scratches in the tank, that is why I am going to sand and buff it before I begin to set it up. I also am worried about scratches. This is my first acrylic tank. I am just going to try to be very careful, clean the inside panes often with acrylic safe products - my biggest worry is cleaning near the sand bed. I have to say that I saw this tank setup and I did not notice a lot of scratches or I would not have bought it. I think all tanks get some scratches - they tend to need to be pretty bad in order to distract from the tank. For some reason, small scratches in acrylic do not seem to show very much when the tank is full. A lot of this depneds on where your lights actually hit. For the weight, I did not have a choice for this large of a tank. My 180 is glass and it was tough getting in into the basement. I did not even want to attempt a 270. One nice thing about acrylic is that at least you have an option if you do get a bad scratch. Glass is toast once it gets scratched

good luck

 

[Murfman]

Actually, I bought it used in december and I jsut filled it for a leak test last week! (sad). I have just beem very busy. I am hoping in the next couple weeks I am going to be able to buff it out and get it setup, then xfer my 29 bio, 180 reef, 55 reef and 33 gal rock tank all into this new 270.

To your question, after filling it I see that there are many scratches in the tank, that is why I am going to sand and buff it before I begin to set it up. I also am worried about scratches. This is my first acrylic tank. I am just going to try to be very careful, clean the inside panes often with acrylic safe products - my biggest worry is cleaning near the sand bed. I have to say that I saw this tank setup and I did not notice a lot of scratches or I would not have bought it. I think all tanks get some scratches - they tend to need to be pretty bad in order to distract from the tank. For some reason, small scratches in acrylic do not seem to show very much when the tank is full. A lot of this depneds on where your lights actually hit. For the weight, I did not have a choice for this large of a tank. My 180 is glass and it was tough getting in into the basement. I did not even want to attempt a 270. One nice thing about acrylic is that at least you have an option if you do get a bad scratch. Glass is toast once it gets scratched

good luck

I have a 300 acrylic and just finished buffing some small scratches out of it, while it is full. I used a micromesh kit and started with 1500 and worked up to 3600. You can't even see the fine scratches from head on. It took me about an hour to do all 8' of it. Now if the scratches are deep (can feel with a finger nail), start with a sander and use 400 working your way up. For a tank this size glass would be a lot more weight. I won't go back to glass, unless it is for smaller tanks. With acrylic, don't leave your algae cleaner inside and clean the acrylic often so you don't get coralline build up. Be careful when you get down near the sand and around snails. You should be fine.