May go pick up another 180gal Complete for $550!!

[Steveo McNello]

I for sure wouldn't pass it up!

 

[quintas14]

I'm not up there with the price quotes but I can tell you that all acrylic tanks will come with a protective film on them. Acrylic comes with it on as a post production barrier if you like. It just peels of and will probably only have been removed near the joints when the tank was made out of the sheets.

Then there will be the standard shrink wrap which further protects it from scratches, but that will be the same on a a glass tank too. It's normal to shrink wrap anything that's easily damaged during transportation.

 

[Mastiffman]

I'd pay $500 for that tank if it was near me as long as I thought I could buff out any scratches with a DA polisher.

Is that a tough process (Any links on how to, off hand?)? Is there a rule of thumb for scratch depth compare possible buff out? Also I have a 3.5 year old but she has been taught to not even put figner prints on the glass tanks.... Are there typically any worries for those with acrylic tanks?

I for sure wouldn't pass it up!

It's really that good of a price? Should I go lower or not risk the chance of offending the seller? I always try to get a discounted price, even through LFS's!

I'm not up there with the price quotes but I can tell you that all acrylic tanks will come with a protective film on them. Acrylic comes with it on as a post production barrier if you like. It just peels of and will probably only have been removed near the joints when the tank was made out of the sheets.

Then there will be the standard shrink wrap which further protects it from scratches, but that will be the same on a a glass tank too. It's normal to shrink wrap anything that's easily damaged during transportation.

I've noticed the brown paper protective layer before, but would an acrylic tank normally come with none of that paper on it after being assembled and only Shrink wrapped, if ordered or purchased from a supplier or whereever??

Like, lets say for instance that I ordered an acrylic tank. Would it come Only "Shrink Wrapped" OR Brown paper on the acrylic AND Shrink Wrapped?

Anyone ever been in this scenario?

Thanks guys for all the replies so far. it's nice to have a community where expereinced people are willing to share knowledge and help with situations like these! You guys rock!

 

[quintas14]

It will have a second skin so to speak. It'll be a protective plastic film. You know when you buy glasses they have a sticker on the lens that peels of. It's always there telling you the UV protection rating of the lenses, or always is in the UK anyway.

Well it'll be like that but a bit tougher to pull of as it's made to stay there until intentionally removed. You'll need to peel it off and as long as that's intact, with no dinks, scratch marks or what looks like it's been pushed back on it's self it'll be all good. It's applied after the sheets are manufactured so they can slid on each other without any damage being done.

Even if it's been removed it's not a worry. It'll just make it that slight bit harder to see small scratches. I have seen a topic on here a few years back where someone got some rather nasty scratches out of an acrylic tank. It can be done but it requires patients is all

 

[Mastiffman]

It will have a second skin so to speak. It'll be a protective plastic film. You know when you buy glasses they have a sticker on the lens that peels of. It's always there telling you the UV protection rating of the lenses, or always is in the UK anyway.

Well it'll be like that but a bit tougher to pull of as it's made to stay there until intentionally removed. You'll need to peel it off and as long as that's intact, with no dinks, scratch marks or what looks like it's been pushed back on it's self it'll be all good. It's applied after the sheets are manufactured so they can slid on each other without any damage being done.

Even if it's been removed it's not a worry. It'll just make it that slight bit harder to see small scratches. I have seen a topic on here a few years back where someone got some rather nasty scratches out of an acrylic tank. It can be done but it requires patients is all

Got it! Thanks for the reply.

Summery:

-So it normally does have a protective layer or skin on the acrylic (nromally brown paper like stuff or Clear/ Blue?).
-It will also have been shrink Wrapped prior to shipping, over the protective paper/skin.
-EVen if it;s not there it should be okay as long it's shrink wrapped but could be harder to dectect smaller scratches which can be buffed out.


Question:

But it's always possible that the person removed the protective paper and re-shrink wrapped the Tank?

Thanks!

Might sound silly but..... Is there a better way to detect scratches in an acrylic tank compared to a glass one?

I thouht of bringing a 3ft compact aquarium light to shine on it.... If they have nothing to worry abuot the seller shouln't mind...

 

[quintas14]

Summery: = Correct

And yes It is possible that someone has removed the protective layer but it'd be normal to most people to do that before filling It anywaw. saying that, If the original user never filled It and it's next owner only filled it outside It could well be still intact as he would have known he wasn't going to be leaving It outside.

Scratches are always hard to see, unless they're big, so all I'd do is make sure I gave it a good once over. Glass can be scratched to, It's just a case of scrutinizing It before you hand money over.