Novus Advice

[Ambientshdw]

I have been watching all the youtube videos and reading everything I can find on the web, but am searching for a little more feedback.

I bought a 75 gallon acrylic used, and have been polishing it up with the novus 3-2-1 system. I have never buffed acrylic so I am learning as I go. It has helped clear the tank from very clouded (couldn't see hand though tank) to lightly clouded.

I am using a 7" orbital buffer, the acrylic feels very smooth to the touch, but has very small circular micro scratches. Whats the best way to remove these? Just continue with novus #2 I have been using wool pads to buffer. I read that it may of been too little product on the pad. I had also read that some people let it dry out for an extended period of time before polishing.

Any advice appreciated. I would love to get the tank clear enough to look though the front and enjoy. Otherwise its going to end up a sump.

 

[mcgyvr]

Keep going..
If you couldn't see your hand through it you've got a lot of elbow grease to use up still

 

[Ambientshdw]

Sounds good.

I can see my hand now, its still just fuzzy.

 

[AZRippster]

Ambient,

This past summer my wife and I scored a used 450G double bull nose acrylic aquarium. Although it was in pretty good shape, we wanted it like new. The previous owner had been a little rough on it in spots. After doing a plethora of research, this is what we did, and it turned out fantastic.

Items Needed:

Sander (Our Makita 4 1/2 Finishing Sander worked great)
1500, 2000, 2500, 3000 Wet Sand Sandpaper - Automotive grade
Spray bottle with a touch of dish soap, a little, in each fill
Mother's Powerball
Mother's Powercone
Drill
Meguiar's PlastX Polish
Buffer for Polishing (optional)

Cut your sandpaper for the size of your sander and let it soak a good 15-30 minutes in a bowl of water. Then slowly work your way up through each grade of paper. Use the spray bottle to keep water on the area your sanding. Use figure 8 patterns as much as you can when sanding and don't do too big of an area at once. The reason for a smidgeon of dish soap in the spray bottle is it helps prevent clogging and binding between the sand paper and acrylic.

Once you think you have the whole thing sanded appropriately for the scratches it has, it's time to buff. PlastX works great and available at Walmart as are the Mother's Powerball and cone. The ball is for the big areas and the cone will allow you to get into the seam areas. My wife ended up using our buffer with a terrycloth bonnet as well, but I don't think you have to.

This should go without saying, but rinse the crap out of the interior. You don't want any residue left behind, which is easy to clean off.

Here is a shot of the tank at 4 months. Still very young but maturing nicely. Since this picture to the present (about a month), it has changed considerably.

Best of luck!

 

[rfgonzo]

I would do the same as AZRippster and wet sand. When it comes to buffing I use a 4'' to 7'' buffing wheel not a powerball I get more leverage with the buffing wheel over the ball. When buffing with the novus 3 and 2 make sure not to let it run dry or you will melt the acrylic and have other problems. Wet sanding may seem scary at first, but if it's done properly it will make a world of difference in clarity.