Reviving an acrylic aquarium

xxkenny90xx · 02/28/2019, 09:59 AM

So I just picked up a used 60x18x24" reef ready tank and am looking to restore it (it does hold water). I am replacing the bulkheads. It is covered in mostly light scratches so I'll be polishing it and possibly sanding it if that doesn't work out. Is there anything else I can do to make it as good as new? I was thinking about maybe adding silicone to the bottom perimeter and around the overflow boxes for some added leak protection. What do you guys think?

xxkenny90xx · 02/28/2019, 10:30 AM

Also, please no "silicone doesn't bond to acrylic" debates, there are certain silicones which work better than others for this purpose and it is just a thought for more peace of mind

mcgyvr · 02/28/2019, 11:28 AM

Are the joints questionable?
Crazing?

If you are really concerned about joint failure then cutting some strips and solvent welding them in place at the seams is a far better solution than silicone..
Even running a bead of a thickened solvent like Weld on (Scigrip) 16 would be better IMO than using silicone..

xxkenny90xx · 02/28/2019, 11:09 PM

Thanks, I'll check out the weld on stuff. The joints look fine and probably are. I'm just looking to do anything I can to make the tank good as new before I move my current reef into it

lingwendil · 03/01/2019, 01:39 PM

Silicone will be a waste of time. As said, run some Weld-on or similar around the perimeter if there is visible crazing or micro-fissures around the edge, worse case you could add a triangular gusset but I wouldn't unless you had a compelling reason to.

EnderG60 · 03/07/2019, 12:49 PM

Having done the same a long time ago with a 58g tank, youre best option is to throw the tank away and find a better one. But if youre not going to do that.....

You can reinforce the edges by gluing(with weldon not silicon) small strips to form a new seal. But it will look like crap, and the crazing will probably still spread once water is added back to the tank.

You can also polish out all the scratches, BUT if any are deep enough to feel with your finger nail dont bother. You will end up with a wavy uneven surface when its polished which will create a magnifying glass effect.

laverda · 03/11/2019, 01:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EnderG60

Having done the same a long time ago with a 58g tank, youre best option is to throw the tank away and find a better one. But if youre not going to do that.....

You can reinforce the edges by gluing(with weldon not silicon) small strips to form a new seal. But it will look like crap, and the crazing will probably still spread once water is added back to the tank.

You can also polish out all the scratches, BUT if any are deep enough to feel with your finger nail dont bother. You will end up with a wavy uneven surface when its polished which will create a magnifying glass effect.

I totally did agree with uour comments about throwing aeay the tank and polishing it. I picked up a used 300 and sanded and polished it without any of the affects you mentioned.

xxkenny90xx · 03/12/2019, 09:49 PM

Thanks for the advice guys. Just an update, I spent about 3hrs with another person using the Novak 3 step polish and some buffing pads on a couple of drills. It still isn't perfect, but wow what an improvement. I won't be needing to sand now. I'm gonna skip the weld on since all the edges look good. Now it just doing some plumbing!

02/28/2019, 09:59 AM	#1
xxkenny90xx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 69	Reviving an acrylic aquarium So I just picked up a used 60x18x24" reef ready tank and am looking to restore it (it does hold water). I am replacing the bulkheads. It is covered in mostly light scratches so I'll be polishing it and possibly sanding it if that doesn't work out. Is there anything else I can do to make it as good as new? I was thinking about maybe adding silicone to the bottom perimeter and around the overflow boxes for some added leak protection. What do you guys think?

02/28/2019, 11:28 AM	#3
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	Are the joints questionable? Crazing? If you are really concerned about joint failure then cutting some strips and solvent welding them in place at the seams is a far better solution than silicone.. Even running a bead of a thickened solvent like Weld on (Scigrip) 16 would be better IMO than using silicone.. __________________ Who me?

03/01/2019, 01:39 PM	#5
lingwendil Man who sold the world Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Oakley, behind enemy lines in communist occupied California. Posts: 254	Silicone will be a waste of time. As said, run some Weld-on or similar around the perimeter if there is visible crazing or micro-fissures around the edge, worse case you could add a triangular gusset but I wouldn't unless you had a compelling reason to. __________________ LED snob. Unapologetic Luxeon Rebel and Bridgelux Vero fanboy. Every time a fluorescent or halide fixture is scrapped, an angel gets its wings.

02/28/2019, 10:30 AM	#2
xxkenny90xx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 69	Also, please no "silicone doesn't bond to acrylic" debates, there are certain silicones which work better than others for this purpose and it is just a thought for more peace of mind

02/28/2019, 11:09 PM	#4
xxkenny90xx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 69	Thanks, I'll check out the weld on stuff. The joints look fine and probably are. I'm just looking to do anything I can to make the tank good as new before I move my current reef into it

03/07/2019, 12:49 PM	#6
EnderG60 Plumbing Engineer Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Atlanta GA Posts: 3,260	Having done the same a long time ago with a 58g tank, youre best option is to throw the tank away and find a better one. But if youre not going to do that..... You can reinforce the edges by gluing(with weldon not silicon) small strips to form a new seal. But it will look like crap, and the crazing will probably still spread once water is added back to the tank. You can also polish out all the scratches, BUT if any are deep enough to feel with your finger nail dont bother. You will end up with a wavy uneven surface when its polished which will create a magnifying glass effect.

03/12/2019, 09:49 PM	#8
xxkenny90xx Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Posts: 69	Thanks for the advice guys. Just an update, I spent about 3hrs with another person using the Novak 3 step polish and some buffing pads on a couple of drills. It still isn't perfect, but wow what an improvement. I won't be needing to sand now. I'm gonna skip the weld on since all the edges look good. Now it just doing some plumbing!