Tank scratches more/less visible when full?

[Cool Ethan]

I am considering buying a used tank that has some scratches in it. I'm ok with imperfection, and I plan on doing little bit of buffing with cerium oxide polish, but I've only see the tank empty. Will the any scratches become less (or more?) visible when full?

 

[JGT]

Glass or acrylic?

 

[Cool Ethan]

Glass or acrylic?

Glass

 

[JGT]

You’ll have minimum success with buffing out what’s there but when full the scratches will be much less visible. Depends on how bad or deep scratches are..

 

[Cool Ethan]

You’ll have minimum success with buffing out what’s there but when full the scratches will be much less visible. Depends on how bad or deep scratches are..

Yeah expectations are low in that regard. But mainly I was curious about visibility with or without water as I have never actually seen the difference with the same tank/scratch

 

[JGT]

Water hides a lot. But if deep or concentrated you will see some.