I got my tank back. Great Service Reef Solutions

[Tom Toro]

I hate my acrylic 240 because of the coralline buildup I constantly battle. I tried the sanding route and the plastic blade route with no success. I finally just let it go and decided to sell the tank and shell out the cash for a glass 240.

Carl from Reef Solutions convinced me to keep the acrylic and he'd come over and show me how to maintain it. After a major scraping and a professional polishing job, I can finally see in my tank again. He took out a gouge in the front that had been there from the beginning. And also taught me how to do it myself without gouging it. Turned out great. Thanks Carl!

I still have some scraping to do on the back.
Here's what it looked like before:





Here's what it looked like after:

[MizTanks]

OMG!! You need to go into a little more detail as to how this was done What did he use? Most of all what happened to all the coralline that was scraped off?
Your tank looks beautiful Tom!! Wonderful job Carl

[dentdominator]

WOW, talk about night and day difference. Carl, you did a great job. Your forams must be made of steel to deal with those Clarkii clownfish.

[ebushrow]

Just more proof that Carl is awesome!

[binford4000]

WOW unreal diffrence !!!! Great job carl and Tom ya gotta be loveing it> Tank looks even more awsome !!

[Tom Toro]

Originally Posted by MizTanks

OMG!! You need to go into a little more detail as to how this was done What did he use? Most of all what happened to all the coralline that was scraped off?
Your tank looks beautiful Tom!! Wonderful job Carl

Thanks MT. Here's how he did it.
He used a Kent scraper with a METAL blade and just be careful with a very steep angle. Any more and you can feel yourself cutting into the acrylic. We used the hand unit, the 2 ft and the 3 ft.

Don't use too much pressure

Most importantly, bend the corners of the blade away from the surface so it doesn't catch and scratch/gouge. Keep checking because it bends back pretty quickly.

Inside scratch removal:
Using the wet sanding kit, he used the heaviest grit first and worked his way down the list. First, sand sideways, switch to the next grit and sand up and down, etc.

Outside scratch removal:
Same idea, (use a bucket and keep the sandpaper wet)depending on the depth of the scratch and then finish off with Nova 3, 2, 1. Still can't believe that scratch that stopped my finger nail is gone.

I finished the job today. Took everything apart plumbing wise and scraped like crazy. Only took a couple more hours:

Originally Posted by dentdominator

WOW, talk about night and day difference. Carl, you did a great job. Your forams must be made of steel to deal with those Clarkii clownfish.

I used a rubber glove on my hand and a cut rubber glove on my forearm and they were still ripping at the rubber.

Originally Posted by ebushrow

Just more proof that Carl is awesome!

Yep.

Originally Posted by binford4000

WOW unreal diffrence !!!! Great job carl and Tom ya gotta be loveing it> Tank looks even more awsome !!

Thanks Chuck! I'm lovin' it. Now the other tank looks dirty.

[Tropical Buff]

I have to agree awesome job tank looks incredible

Also Tom that anenome is incredible and huge don't think I have seen one in a tank quite that size

[larryandlaura]

Wow what a difference !

[Tom Toro]

Originally Posted by Tropical Buff

I have to agree awesome job tank looks incredible

Also Tom that anenome is incredible and huge don't think I have seen one in a tank quite that size

Thanks Bart! There's a huge one in the middle of the tank that's about a foot across and the other third of the tank is about 12 of em. I'm lucky they haven't traveled yet and stung everything. Here's a close-up with a phone cam:


Thanks L&L!

[demonclownfish]

why is there a sock in the upper left corner? lol and nice tank