127g Acrylic build

[Chrism1330]

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

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

 

[SupraSaltyReefer]

Nice tank! Love the dimensions. Cleaning 36" down is going to be a pain in the a$$. Start looking for a Magnavore magnet cleaner, you'll definitely need it.

 

[Kensington Reefer]

or Mighty Magnet

 

[Chrism1330]

Nice tank! Love the dimensions. Cleaning 36" down is going to be a pain in the a$$. Start looking for a Magnavore magnet cleaner, you'll definitely need it.

It sure will! Im gunna need the harbor freight step stool to move side to side lol

 

[Coral reefer]

Mighty magnet f3 with mesh algae sock

 

[derek_SR]

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!

 

[Coral reefer]

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!

Not all urchins are the same I think. Some likely would
Small tuxedos seem pretty gentle

 

[Chrism1330]

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!

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

 

[Darkxerox]

Not all urchins are the same I think. Some likely would
Small tuxedos seem pretty gentle

The only one I've had that scratched was a black long spine. The tuxedos, Halloween, and pincushion have been ok for me.

 

[derek_SR]

The only one I've had that scratched was a black long spine. The tuxedos, Halloween, and pincushion have been ok for me.

Black rock urchins are also ok (short spine...) I had a bunch of a while that came in with my TBS rock.

 

[Darkxerox]

Black rock urchins are also ok (short spine...) I had a bunch of a while that came in with my TBS rock.

Ah right forgot about that little guy, he's still cruising in the nano.

 

[derek_SR]

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

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

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.

 

[Chrism1330]

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

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.

Perfect thanks Derek ill be sure to get one

 

[derek_SR]

Perfect thanks Derek ill be sure to get one

Kenny usually as them in stock @under_water_ninja

 

[H2OPlayar]

Perfect thanks Derek ill be sure to get one

If it is what I am thinking of, you want the middle length, 24" one. The short one doesn't reach where you want and the long one flexes too much to give you appropriate pressure to clean the hard the scrape stuff. At least for my glass this is true. @derek_SR , can you confirm?

 

[blink]

I have a 30" tall tank as well. I still use the Kent Marine 34" scraper.

 

[Chrism1330]

If it is what I am thinking of, you want the middle length, 24" one. The short one doesn't reach where you want and the long one flexes too much to give you appropriate pressure to clean the hard the scrape stuff. At least for my glass this is true. @derek_SR , can you confirm?

I figured that would be the case i might get the small one just for easier spots to get into at the top of the tank at least

 

[Chrism1330]

I have a 30" tall tank as well. I still use the Kent Marine 34" scraper.

Thats long

 

[derek_SR]

If it is what I am thinking of, you want the middle length, 24" one. The short one doesn't reach where you want and the long one flexes too much to give you appropriate pressure to clean the hard the scrape stuff. At least for my glass this is true. @derek_SR , can you confirm?

Yeah I definitely would not bother with the 35" one. I use the 15" one 90% of the time, and the 0" one the other 10% to get the really difficult stuff in the upper corners.

I have long arms and the 15" is no problem reaching to the bottom of my tank. With a 36" deep you probably want the 24", but it's going to flex some. I have it and never use it (just don't need it). You can have mine at the next event although you probably want something sooner.

 

[Coral reefer]

I use the 24” all the time. I use the flex to my advantage and put pressure on the middle with my other hand sometimes. I have the shorter one too, depends on the use case