Acrylic cleaning material help

[Galoot]

So i have been using magic erasers, doddie pads and plastic scrapper to keep the tank clean. But I can’t get off this stubborn algae or whatever film it is. It’s hard to take a picture of, it’s only on the lower qtr of the tank. I almost feel like it’s etched into the acrylic or something. I scrubbed the same small areas for five minutes with all the above materials, it didn’t even touch it. Any ideas on what this is and tips to get right of it? The rest of the tank is crystal clear. This is so annoying! Thanks!

 

[Darkxerox]

Fingernail doesn't take it off either? Hard to tell from the picture, can you take a close up macro shot with the whites only on?

Only thing I had issues with in the past was a specific species of pink coralline algae. To this day the only thing that got it off was a blunted metal scraper that required me to repolish the area afterwards.

Also what species of urchin do keep?

 

[Galoot]

Fingernail doesn't take it off either?
Also what species of urchin do keep?

Nope, finger nail does nothing.

No urchin in the display. I have one down in the sump. Pin Cushion I believe? Should I transfer him up?

 

[Darkxerox]

Nope, finger nail does nothing.

No urchin in the display. I have one down in the sump. Pin Cushion I believe? Should I transfer him up?

Yeah no idea what it is then. Try the urchin, it might at least loosen the bits if they're not etched into the acrylic. But a better macro picture would help. Then maybe the other acrylic gurus could chime in like @Kensington Reefer

 

[Galoot]

I’m trying to get a pic of it. Just not very successful so far. I have a iPhone 16 pro but have no idea how to do anything camera related other than point and shoot. When I look closely at it, it appears snails are able to munch on it because I can see pathways through out. Just really weird I can’t manually get it off. Frustrating to say the least

 

[Kensington Reefer]

hmmmm
I've never used a magic eraser in my acrylic tanks.
Are you referring to the "haze" down by the bottom?

 

[Galoot]

hmmmm
I've never used a magic eraser in my acrylic tanks.
Are you referring to the "haze" down by the bottom?

Yes. It’s organic whatever it is. It has taken hold and I can’t get it off. The of the tank is clean

 

[Darkxerox]

I’m trying to get a pic of it. Just not very successful so far. I have a iPhone 16 pro but have no idea how to do anything camera related other than point and shoot. When I look closely at it, it appears snails are able to munch on it because I can see pathways through out. Just really weird I can’t manually get it off. Frustrating to say the least

Try those tips, then turn off all your blue/violet LEDs, and turn on the warm white ones if you have control of that easily.

 

[Galoot]

Best I could get

 

[andyman]

i have the same issue. Its like acrylic haze or something. I was doing my research and the only way to fix this is the sand and polish this using a mighty magnet and sand paper. fortunately you can do this without draining. I just ordered my magnets and plan on doing this shortly.

For what you have, before you order the magnets have you tried continuum stainless blades for glass tanks? That might just take this stuff off. It took my corraline algae off like butter where nothing else could get it off.

 

[Galoot]

i have the same issue. Its like acrylic haze or something. I was doing my research and the only way to fix this is the sand and polish this using a mighty magnet and sand paper. fortunately you can do this without draining. I just ordered my magnets and plan on doing this shortly.

For what you have, before you order the magnets have you tried continuum stainless blades for glass tanks? That might just take this stuff off. It took my corraline algae off like butter where nothing else could get it off.

Lmk how it goes for you. I’m going to call John at advance acrylics for his thoughts since he built the tank for me.

Haven’t tried a metal blade. The red plastic Kent scrapper took all the coraline I had off nice and easy. I’d assume if I go with a metal blade I’m going to scratch up the plexi and need to polish it all out. Not really feeling that in a one year old tank

 

[psidriven]

I read that is the nicks and burrs in the metal blade that scratches acrylic. So a very flat, nick free blade will remove algae without scratching. Trick is smooth not necessarily sharp blade, if that makes sense.