Fishy Business

127g Acrylic build

PjFish said:
Nice write up especially with the corner stones of BAR chipping in helping make a solid build!! Love the stand nice work!
Great dimensions tank looks clean did you need to buff the tank out?
Hard to see maybe but did you add any hose clamps on the clear flex return connections or use a heat gun to get a good tight fit?
“ Last build for a while” You’ve been on a roll that may be tough report back in a year on that note ha! Fowlrs tend to run multiple tanks gota have that predator lion fish and eel tank or nine brain Octopoda!
Thanks for the update on the build journal
Click to expand...

I haven’t buffed out the acrylic not sure if i plan to do that yet, its a bit tedious from the videos ive watched.

Ive moved so many times this year it was a hassle breaking down setting up constantly haha i plan to watch this one grow for a while maybe down the line ill add coral for now ill keep it simple

I used the plastic strap clipper going to need two more from AC. The return pum side will need one and the top of the return nozzle
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I hate to be a downer, but keeping acrylic clean without scratching it is such an enormous chore. And it ends up getting scratched AF anyway. I love everything else about acrylic besides this.

I have multiple mighty magnet sizes and setups. I do a daily clean with the lightweight magnet that has the basic pad on it.

I do a clean every couple of days with the heavier magnet and algae sock, but it's too thick to clean close to a lot of the acros so I do my best.

Then every couple of weeks I get my arm in there and go over ever inch with the plastic scraper from Kenny's (I forget the brand - but it's the one with the carbon handle and is the only one worth a damn).

All the areas that get corraline and require the deep scraping get scratched pretty badly - and actually he corraline growth itself seems to create scratch patterns if you let it grow too long. Also the nori magnet clip, which is supposed to be acrylic safe, also creates scratches.

Urchins do not, however, I think this is a myth. So that's nice!
 
derek_SR said:
I hate to be a downer, but keeping acrylic clean without scratching it is such an enormous chore. And it ends up getting scratched AF anyway. I love everything else about acrylic besides this.

I have multiple mighty magnet sizes and setups. I do a daily clean with the lightweight magnet that has the basic pad on it.

I do a clean every couple of days with the heavier magnet and algae sock, but it's too thick to clean close to a lot of the acros so I do my best.

Then every couple of weeks I get my arm in there and go over ever inch with the plastic scraper from Kenny's (I forget the brand - but it's the one with the carbon handle and is the only one worth a damn).

All the areas that get corraline and require the deep scraping get scratched pretty badly - and actually he corraline growth itself seems to create scratch patterns if you let it grow too long. Also the nori magnet clip, which is supposed to be acrylic safe, also creates scratches.

Urchins do not, however, I think this is a myth. So that's nice!
Click to expand...
Not all urchins are the same I think. Some likely would
Small tuxedos seem pretty gentle
 
derek_SR said:
I hate to be a downer, but keeping acrylic clean without scratching it is such an enormous chore. And it ends up getting scratched AF anyway. I love everything else about acrylic besides this.

I have multiple mighty magnet sizes and setups. I do a daily clean with the lightweight magnet that has the basic pad on it.

I do a clean every couple of days with the heavier magnet and algae sock, but it's too thick to clean close to a lot of the acros so I do my best.

Then every couple of weeks I get my arm in there and go over ever inch with the plastic scraper from Kenny's (I forget the brand - but it's the one with the carbon handle and is the only one worth a damn).

All the areas that get corraline and require the deep scraping get scratched pretty badly - and actually he corraline growth itself seems to create scratch patterns if you let it grow too long. Also the nori magnet clip, which is supposed to be acrylic safe, also creates scratches.

Urchins do not, however, I think this is a myth. So that's nice!
Click to expand...
Yea thats the part that sucks, ive avoided acrylic for this reason but due to it being on the 3rd floor i had no choice i wanted to be light.

Also another reason why I haven’t buffed out scratches now is that its gunna happen again down the line anyways.

Ill look into that plastic scraper from kennys hopefully he still has some left, gives me a reason to visit the shop for the first time lol
 
Chrism1330 said:
Yea thats the part that sucks, ive avoided acrylic for this reason but due to it being on the 3rd floor i had no choice i wanted to be light.

Also another reason why I haven’t buffed out scratches now is that its gunna happen again down the line anyways.

Ill look into that plastic scraper from kennys hopefully he still has some left, gives me a reason to visit the shop for the first time lol
Click to expand...
www.saltwateraquarium.com

Aquablade P Aquarium Scraper 24" With Glass & Acrylic Safe Plastic Blade - Continuum Aquatics

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.
www.saltwateraquarium.com www.saltwateraquarium.com

This is the brand - they make a bunch of lengths, I use 3 different lengths. The most useful is the shortest one to really get good leverage on corraline. The blue plastic scrapers are nice and soft and gentle on acrylic. The problem is they dull really quickly (like after a minute or two) - but if you run them back and forth on 800 grit sandpaper a few times they are good as new again.
 
derek_SR said:
www.saltwateraquarium.com

Aquablade P Aquarium Scraper 24" With Glass & Acrylic Safe Plastic Blade - Continuum Aquatics

Shop The Best Saltwater Aquarium Equipment & Supplies at Saltwater Aquarium. We Carry Everything you will Need for your Fish Tank.
www.saltwateraquarium.com www.saltwateraquarium.com

This is the brand - they make a bunch of lengths, I use 3 different lengths. The most useful is the shortest one to really get good leverage on corraline. The blue plastic scrapers are nice and soft and gentle on acrylic. The problem is they dull really quickly (like after a minute or two) - but if you run them back and forth on 800 grit sandpaper a few times they are good as new again.
Click to expand...
Perfect thanks Derek ill be sure to get one
 
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