Scratches =[

[xamy_valox]

Ive just been cleaning the front of my tank with a simple washing up sponge, however it has left thin scratches on the glass now!! I've used this method on both my other tanks and had no problem, but this glass only has to be touched and seems to scratch!
The scratches are on the inside, is there any easy way or buffing them out somehow? They aren't ridiculously noticeable but I'm gutted =\
Thanks, Amy xx

 

[karawr]

Do you have sand? I wonder if it got between the sponge and the glass. I know how you feel about scratches. Due to money issues I've had to buy all my tanks used and they have a decent amount of scratches on it...

I'm not sure of ways to buff them out but will be paying attention to this thread to see if there's anything that can be done...

 

[Spurry]

are you sure its glass? could you have got some gravel on the sponge?

 

[xamy_valox]

Yeah I have sand, it was as if tiny particles of sand had covered the front of the glass, thats why i was cleaning it so I'm guessing the sand has scratched as I've moved it.
Also, I had loads of bubbles trapped under my sand which i could see at the front, I've released what I can see, if there is more air trapped, will this be dangerous to the fish?
Thanks.

 

[Mowbz]

Nope, the gas bubbles are harmless. Might smell a bit however.

 

[doresy]

Hi, sand against glass is a killer for scratching. I don't know the details of your tank but can it be turned around, ie. take off the background and make the back the front?

As far as the bubbles under the sand are concerned these can be got rid off by gently stirring the sand with something like a chop-stick every now and again. Another tip is to slope the sand so there is not much showing at the front as this will go black.

 

[xamy_valox]

Nah, the tank can be turned as the slots for the wires are on the back =\

Ahh why will it turn black?! And yeah funnily enough thats exactly what I used.

I've just found my beta dead at the back of my tank ='[ Thats 2 fish I've lost in a week, one was a harlequin rasbora and now my beta, yet my levels are fine?! =[=[=[

 

[doresy]

Nah, the tank can be turned as the slots for the wires are on the back =\

Ahh why will it turn black?! And yeah funnily enough thats exactly what I used.

I've just found my beta dead at the back of my tank ='[ Thats 2 fish I've lost in a week, one was a harlequin rasbora and now my beta, yet my levels are fine?! =[=[=[

Not quite sure why it goes black between the glass and the sand but it does. Sunlight does it.

So you lost a couple of fish, not good! 9 times out of 10 it's water quality. It is absolutely imperative that nitrite and ammonia are at a complete zero, not .25 but zero. Beta's don't like strong current so check that. Harly's are quite hardy, I used to keep them before taking the cichlid route and never lost one in years. My money is on water quality, how often do you do water changes and what's your Nitrate level?

 

[xamy_valox]

Hi there, to be honest I put the harlequin dying down to old age as it was about 4 yrs old. My betta also had something wrong with his mouth, it was kinda split but he still seemed to be eating and going about his business as usual!
I do about a 20-30% water change every week, feed every other day and my nitrate was at 0 as was ammonia! Nitrite was about 5. I'm gonna do another yet today before I do a water change and also try and get any rubbish out of the sand that I can xx

 

[fishprotector]

The black patches are caused by anaerobic buildup, when trapped waste decays between the layers. You just need to stir the sand up more often. Play sand has finer grains and will compact and trap waste easier.

It is very difficult to scratch glass with sand. Is the tank made from acrylic? If so, then you can scratch it with sand.

 

[xamy_valox]

I have no idea, I assumed it was glass. It's the Fluval Roma 125 if that helps?
I haven't got any black patches but my friend did say her sand went a wires green colour?!
I stir up the sand every time I do a water change just to get some of the poop and stuff out xx

 

[fishprotector]

As far as I know, the Roma 125s are glass. Was the sponge new? Was it just a sponge or one of those with a scouring pad?

 

[CezzaXV]

Hi there, to be honest I put the harlequin dying down to old age as it was about 4 yrs old. My betta also had something wrong with his mouth, it was kinda split but he still seemed to be eating and going about his business as usual!
I do about a 20-30% water change every week, feed every other day and my nitrate was at 0 as was ammonia! Nitrite was about 5. I'm gonna do another yet today before I do a water change and also try and get any rubbish out of the sand that I can xx

If your nitrIte is at 5, that may well be your problem. Seems odd that you have no nitrAtes though?

 

[BigbruiserAl]

you can repair surface scrach's with some jewllers rouge. Its a cutting compound in powder form think you can find it on flebay. You will need a polishing cloth and and need to empty the tank

 

[xamy_valox]

I think I've got them mixed up as I often do. In the API testing kit the one that makes the blue liquid is at 0 and the one that makes an orangey liquid is at 0 as is my ammonia. I always get them mixed up =\
And it was a washing up sponge so like the ones that have the darker green bit on the one side which is a bit more abbrasive?