Removing scratches?

[yhbae]

Is there any known way to remove scratches from glass tanks? I bought one used and it came with a nice (not!) scratches on the front glass, on the inner side...

 

[Blacky]

Try rubbing the scratch with toothpaste that gets scratches out of glass on watches it worth a try

 

[yhbae]

Hmm... How does that work? At least in theory, I don't see how fluoride can help remove scratches??

 

[Spyderdf]

Woudl't adding a substance, such as the ones found in tooth paste be harmful?
*when u have fish*

 

[yhbae]

I'm sure adding toothpaste into the tank with fishes will result in a total disaster. I'd only do it if I decide to switch the theme completely and do a total clean up. Won't happen anytime soon though....

 

[heresmike]

Maybe the toothpaste you're supposed to use has a mild abrasive in it... same principal as using rubbing compound to remove a scratch on your car. If this is the case, you might end up with a dull spot. If you do use toothpaste, I'd imagine if you rinse the tank thoroughly it wouldn't cause any harm to the fish. The same would apply to whatever you use...

 

[a1wonder]

Umm the toothpaste trick is meant to be used with scratched cds. You are supposed to use toothpaste that is a paste (not a gel in the common market) the paste allows you sometimes to read over the scratches. It doesn't get rid of them and it doesn't even make them less noticeable. The only think that is going to get rid of a scratch in glass is new glass sorry to bust your bubble but Crest is going to just make it peppermint and kill your fish.

 

[yhbae]

Either way, I'm not going to clean the tank with tooth paste with fishes in it - period...

 

[Yano]

I forget the name, its some kind of compound people use on telescope lenses, do a search on google or go to some telescope site. I have no tried it, but its the only way I know of.

 

[Silly me]

toothpaste is like sand paper on glass or CD's..!! take some between you finger and rub softly.. It works wonders on a scratched DVD or CD.?

go to a glas shop, they have glue that they fix car windows.

 

[Silly me]

you can always replace the front glass?

 

[Blacky]

most scratches would be on the outside of the tank wouldn't they ? If this is the case no harm to fish, nobody else has come up with an idea so whats the harm in trying it as long as the scratch is on the outside

 

[!guppy!]

why did youy buy a tank with ugly scratches on it?, id say youll end up going insane and buying a new tank to get rid of scratches...madness

 

[csr mel]

you cant "remove" a scratch as a scratch its self means a lack of matereal.

what you can do however, is fill in the scratch. i do not know of any aquarium safe scratch fillers though. all of the ones i know of for automotive applications would be lethal for fish. and failing that, i do not know of any scratch fillers which can work underwater.

i would suggest to be safe, ignore the scratch or replace the piece of glass. most glass stores can cut you an exact replacement piece for pretty cheap. aquarium glass as far as i know does not have any special properties in it so it should be pretty cheap. and aquarium silicone is cheap as well.

 

[K-Holed]

Depending on the depth of the scratch, when you fill it with water, it may become invisible.

If not you could try cerium oxide. It will take ALOT of elbow grease to get rid of the scratches using this method but it can be done. (This will only work for minor scrathes ie. ones you can't feel with your finger nail)