Glass is etched HELP!

[lexiz1]

So I took down my 210 gallon tank so I can clean and rebuild everything. When I was done removing all the coralline algae from the back and sides of the glass, I found a haze remaining. I soaked it with vinegar, then muratic acid, scrubbed with a magic eraser, razor blades, SOS pad....and nothing! It looks like the glass has been etched from years of the algae growth.

Has anyone ever run into this? And if so, what can I do??? Is there any way to clean this or have the glass refinished? HELP me out please!!!

 

[jtmbtech]

It is very hard to find anypLace that will Attempt to buff glass. The best place to try I's an auto glass repair company.

 

[apexkeeper]

It has to be polished, I used cerium oxide powder and a small 2" sander with a felt polishing wheel on my 65 gallon with bad etching.

It takes time but its not hard to do. You add water to the cerium oxide powder to make a paste solution and simply start applying it on the glass and polishing it in. Start slow so you get the feel for it and keep the glass wet so it doesn't get hot.

 

[lexiz1]

Cerium oxide

Cerium oxide

It has to be polished, I used cerium oxide powder and a small 2" sander with a felt polishing wheel on my 65 gallon with bad etching.

It takes time but its not hard to do. You add water to the cerium oxide powder to make a paste solution and simply start applying it on the glass and polishing it in. Start slow so you get the feel for it and keep the glass wet so it doesn't get hot.

Cerium oxide.....is that like jewelry rouge? Where did you get that? I have a large high speed buffer and smaller detail polisher that I use on cars all the time. Just didn't think glass could be buffed out.

Thank you for the suggestion!

 

[apexkeeper]

I believe jewelers rouge and cerium oxide are one in the same. I got mine on Amazon, its pretty cheap. I needed a little more than a pound to completely polish 4 sides of my 65.

It won't remove the imperfection (etching means glass is actually missing) it just polishes it smooth so it looks clear. I can still slightly feel where the etching was on my tank if I run my finger across it but I can't see it anymore.

Be warned though, it makes a mess. Your best bet is to do it on a large tarp because you will get wet, and splattered with orange goo.

 

[leveldrummer]

Its likely you wont see any of it once you fill the tank back up. so dont do anything. test it first. fill it up and see how it looks. (or just get it wet and see how it looks)

 

[lexiz1]

Its likely you wont see any of it once you fill the tank back up. so dont do anything. test it first. fill it up and see how it looks. (or just get it wet and see how it looks)

My thought also BUT..... I put the blue background back on, filled a portion of the tank and could clearly see it. Looks terrible.

 

[lexiz1]

Apex- Im fine with some imperfection. Anything is better than what it is now. I was considering putting a few rounds thru the tank and buying a new one or getting out of the hobby altogether. I appreciate the info. Thanks again!

 

[apexkeeper]

Leveldrummer is right about the etching looking less noticeable with water in the tank. I'm just too OCD about my gear.

 

[lexiz1]

Yea so am I. I wanted to rotate my tank around and use the back as my front so it really has to be clear. I ordered some cerium oxide so I will let you know how it turns out.

 

[zachfishman]

How did this turn out? I have a few marks on a used tank I just bought and am contemplating buffing with cerium oxide.

 

[lexiz1]

Zach-
It turned out ok, not great. It takes alot of elbow grease. The marks on your tank will have to be rather small to get decent results.