Calling all Acrylic Owners - What is this?

[JCOLE]

I have had my 500 peninsula up and wet for about one month now. Before filling it up, I noticed what looked like a tiny little white mark on the side pane. I could not feel it or buff it out with Novus and a buffing kit. I then noticed it appeared to be in the middle of the pane and not on the sides. I decided to just roll with it, as it was just one spot. Now, after a month, I am noticing more of them around the tank. What do you think this could be? Sorry for the bad photos. I could not get a close up with my phone.

 

[Timfish]

Hard to say but I'd guess a small piece of acrylic or airbubble.

 

[Dburr1014]

I have had my 500 peninsula up and wet for about one month now. Before filling it up, I noticed what looked like a tiny little white mark on the side pane. I could not feel it or buff it out with Novus and a buffing kit. I then noticed it appeared to be in the middle of the pane and not on the sides. I decided to just roll with it, as it was just one spot. Now, after a month, I am noticing more of them around the tank. What do you think this could be? Sorry for the bad photos. I could not get a close up with my phone.

Is this a tank you bought or made?
If you bought it, I would send an email and pics to the manufacturer. Just incase.

 

[TheReefDiary]

I have had my 500 peninsula up and wet for about one month now. Before filling it up, I noticed what looked like a tiny little white mark on the side pane. I could not feel it or buff it out with Novus and a buffing kit. I then noticed it appeared to be in the middle of the pane and not on the sides. I decided to just roll with it, as it was just one spot. Now, after a month, I am noticing more of them around the tank. What do you think this could be? Sorry for the bad photos. I could not get a close up with my phone.

Looks like air bubbles or something trapped within the panel itself. Shouldn't have passed quality control looking like that in my opinion. I'd contact the builder.

 

[RedoubtReef]

looks like a bad acrylic product.

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

That $#!+'LL buff out

 

[thatmanMIKEson]

It looks like a chemical burn on the outside. Possibly during welding/gluing?

 

[RedoubtReef]

It looks like a chemical burn on the outside. Possibly during welding/gluing?

good thought, but he says they're spreading. New ones showing up over a month if I understand correctly.

 

[Lowell Lemon]

I experienced defects inside panels of acrylic when I was actively building tanks. Small inclusions would show up from time to time. If I was lucky I would find them before construction. The standard procedure was to assembly the tanks with the paper on both side to prevent scratches. Then peel off the paper, clean, inspect, and repackage for shipping. One time a panel looked like it has smoke imbedded in the panel. I think we built another and sold the tank at a discount to someone else. One time it was a piece of blue acrylic imbedded.

Not a structural problem but a flaw that the tank builder might have missed due to lighting or some other explanation. Sorry you have this happen to your new tank. It is very easy to miss these small inclusions during the cleaning process because acrylic is so electrostatic that small chips and dust stick to the surface during construction. This is one reason we no longer build tanks on a frequent basis due to our facilities being very dusty from solid surface processing. We are constantly filtering the air and cleaning our shop to lower the dust levels on surfaces.

 

[JCOLE]

I spoke with the manufacturer, and we believe we now know what it is. The builder spoke with the acrylic manufacturer, and it's possible that they were producing white acrylic before this one. A small amount of white paint may have been left over, and because the sheets for my tank were the first to be produced, some white paint was baked into the acrylic.

 

[RedoubtReef]

So they're replacing the tank?

 

[JCOLE]

So they're replacing the tank?

Still deciding. Either replace the tank or give me some sort of credit back. Just whatever seems worth it for me. I really do not want to have to redo this entire tank.

 

[I never finish anythi]

Adkeast you got peace of mind it's not structural!

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have had my 500 peninsula up and wet for about one month now. Before filling it up, I noticed what looked like a tiny little white mark on the side pane. I could not feel it or buff it out with Novus and a buffing kit. I then noticed it appeared to be in the middle of the pane and not on the sides. I decided to just roll with it, as it was just one spot. Now, after a month, I am noticing more of them around the tank. What do you think this could be? Sorry for the bad photos. I could not get a close up with my phone.

I had two like this. It will not come out but I just lived with it.
In my case the tank was slightly used and did not ruin the aesthetics of the entire tank

 

[JGT]

Take the credit and have coralline grow over the spots. You’ll never know they are even there.

 

[Tuan’s Reef]

i'll be the devil's advocate and play the other side. That spot would bug the heck out of me. If it be mine, i would ask for a replacement asap.