Removing oil stains from glass...

[Jgisler]

Hello all!

I recently got my 55 gallon project going and am very excited with how things are progressing however, I wanted to know if you guys had any tips or tricks for taking care of those old scratches and stains that end up on our glass aquariums.

I have a few 2-3" scratches on my DT that are irritating but the biggest concern seems to be an almost oil-stain-looking smudge in the top let corner of my DT. I couldn't catch the light right to post a picture, but it would appear as if someone, at one point in time, sprayed a window cleaner of some sort and left it. Does anyone know how to take care of these issues? Am I missing any veteran techniques? Thank you guys :spin2:

 

[Jgisler]

Here is a recent shot of my whole set up

 

[uncleof6]

The "smudge" is glass corrosion. It is caused by high alkali exposure. About the only thing that may touch it is hydrofluouric acid. Failing that, the alternative is live with it, or replace it.

Scratches that can be felt with a fingernail are not going anywhere. Wispy, and *some* heavier scratches in regular float glass, can be removed by using cerium oxide, in progressively smaller grits, and finishing with jewelers rouge. For wispy scratches in tempered glass, forgo the cerium oxide, tooth-whitening toothpaste could be enough to remove them. Otherwise use jewelers rouge mixed with some glycerin.

Don't let anyone fool you, it is a lot of work.

The polishing *could* reduce the "smudge" but don't count on it.

 

[Jgisler]

The "smudge" is glass corrosion. It is caused by high alkali exposure. About the only thing that may touch it is hydrofluouric acid. Failing that, the alternative is live with it, or replace it.

Scratches that can be felt with a fingernail are not going anywhere. Wispy, and *some* heavier scratches in regular float glass, can be removed by using cerium oxide, in progressively smaller grits, and finishing with jewelers rouge. For wispy scratches in tempered glass, forgo the cerium oxide, tooth-whitening toothpaste could be enough to remove them. Otherwise use jewelers rouge mixed with some glycerin.

Don't let anyone fool you, it is a lot of work.

The polishing *could* reduce the "smudge" but don't count on it.

Thanks for the advice, the alkali corrosion looks like oil in the light it's so strange because I didn't notice it before I set up the aquarium. It's not too much of an eye sore but it's definitely a bummer. Thanks again for always being one to help me out with these things!