Picking up used 135gallon Clarity Plus Today (Build Log)

[Mastiffman]

Situation......

I contacted a CL owner of a 125Gal Clarity Plus tank that was listed for $600. I went to see the owner, chat him up and created some rapport and asked about their lowest price and to thinkabout it and let me know through email. Owner responded the next day with $500. I didn't respond for a few days. Sent emial last night with a carefree but polite message explaining my situation and budget with an offer of $325- $350 and it was accepted! It comes with Tank, lids, sump, plumbing, "Real" standalone Inline heater and canopy with wired in fixtures. Has a Blue Background and overflows. I will have to build a stand for it though. Not bad for taking a stab at the offer price!?

So, I just wanted to know everyone's thoughts on the proper sanding methods and materials needed to buff out this tank....

What are the Recommended Tools and locations of purchase?

-Home depot or Lowes?
-Specialty shop or Online shops recommended?
-Sanding machine?
-Sanding pads or papers?
-Best/ most effective grits and steps?
-Best/ most effective polishing comound for acrylics?

Any tips and tricks your plishing pros can offer? I'm an acrylic virgin ad this will be my Ch Pop....

Any advice will be taken into account! Thanks!

 

[Mastiffman]

Okay, So I'm back from my Purchase and This guy gave me a Ton of Stuff and her accepted $340 for it all. Turns out that it really is a 135gallon Clarity PLus acrylic Tank. It's in decent shape and will need a little love as well as the equipment. I wil try to put together a list of stuff that was included in the purchase but it's a pretty good inventory.

Here are some pics. I'm going to look at a 72" x 18" perfecto Black Tank stand fro this thing in a few as well. It's on CL for $90... So we'll see what I can get it for.

So as you can see the tank is a bit dusty and dirty as it was in the mans garage. but no fear. There is also a lot of stuff given with the setup as well. I will have to find some bulbs and things. but I do have a stand in mind as well as an extra Flulval 404 with an Aqauclear 70 PF or two for filtration...

 

[Inglorious]

Good deal, looks to be in pretty decent shape and only needing a little bit of tlc.

 

[shellies215]

When restoring your acrylic, you want to start with the finest paper that will remove the scratch, usually 600-800 wet for deep scratces 1000-1200 for finer scratches then move up to 1200,1500,1800,2000,2500, and if you can get 3000. All steps are wet sanding by hand with plenty of fresh,clean,cold water using very light pressure. Let the paper do the work, and wipe down with more clean water in between switching grades of paper. The compound I have is left over from a polishing shop I used to work at and it doesn't have a name on the bottle, but I think alot of people use novus on their tanks. Practice on the ends first and do the front of the tank last, or go to hd or lowes and buy a $5 piece of acrylic,scratch it up and practice on that.

 

[Mastiffman]

Good deal, looks to be in pretty decent shape and only needing a little bit of tlc.

Yeah, I'm pretty excited. It's my first acrylic so it shold prove to be an interesting build and turnout.

When restoring your acrylic, you want to start with the finest paper that will remove the scratch, usually 600-800 wet for deep scratces 1000-1200 for finer scratches then move up to 1200,1500,1800,2000,2500, and if you can get 3000. All steps are wet sanding by hand with plenty of fresh,clean,cold water using very light pressure. Let the paper do the work, and wipe down with more clean water in between switching grades of paper. The compound I have is left over from a polishing shop I used to work at and it doesn't have a name on the bottle, but I think alot of people use novus on their tanks. Practice on the ends first and do the front of the tank last, or go to hd or lowes and buy a $5 piece of acrylic,scratch it up and practice on that.

WOW, thanks for the detailed reply! It's greatly appreciated! So is all of this done by had? I've heard of some poeple using buffers.... Is wet hand sanding the best way?

Where can I pick some NOVUS 1,2,3 compund?

 

[Gruntking]

Either wetsand it or buff it.
Great thread btw, and good buy!
Should turn out awesome

 

[shellies215]

It's best to do it by hand in my opinion,especially if you are less experienced. If you overdo it with a power tool the acrylic can heat up, leaving a permanent blurry spot. I'm not sure about places that sell novus. I know they have it at the local motorcycle shop here, people use it on their helmet face shields.

 

[Mastiffman]

Either wetsand it or buff it.
Great thread btw, and good buy!
Should turn out awesome

What is better?

It's best to do it by hand in my opinion,especially if you are less experienced. If you overdo it with a power tool the acrylic can heat up, leaving a permanent blurry spot. I'm not sure about places that sell novus. I know they have it at the local motorcycle shop here, people use it on their helmet face shields.

One would have to be a major goof to do that... And this I am Not....

What are the best buffing pads to use? Best to sand by hand then and then buff with a pad and spindle on a drill or buffer?

I was also curious to know, being that the back of the tank is Blue Acrylic, IF I could paint the inside of the back of the tank with Krylon paint? Maybe lightly sand with some fine wet/sand paper and then coat it do that it would stick well.... Would that work?

Or should I just over it with a 3D background? lol

 

[shellies215]

If you wetsand to 3000 grit, power tools really aren't needed, just a final hand rubbing with polish will do it. There may be a way that you only sand to 1200 or 1500 and use a power buffer and compounds to finish, but I have not tried that method.

 

[Mastiffman]

If you wetsand to 3000 grit, power tools really aren't needed, just a final hand rubbing with polish will do it. There may be a way that you only sand to 1200 or 1500 and use a power buffer and compounds to finish, but I have not tried that method.

I ordered the Novus 8oz 3 step kit, their polishing, washable and reuseable pads and the polishing Spindle and with pads today. SHould get that in a few days.

Other UPDATE:

So last night after surfing the Forum a bit I got the urge to scrub the tank down and I must say that it looks pretty decent. here are a couple of after pics.

Today I stopped by Home Depot and got my 12 2x4's need for the framing of the Stand and a Cut sheet of 1/2" Sandeply. As well as some 1" thick 4'x8' sheet of polystyrene for $8. The wood was About $28...



Don't mind the Completely Filthy Garage floor. Spring is hitting and our yard turns into a swamp because it's one fo the ower ones on the block... So the Mastiffs track it in on a constant basis...

Sandeply. Had Home Depot Employee cut 1.5' off of the end and then rip a 19" wide piece. That's 2 of the 3 pieces. Yes ut up so my dogs don't literally destroy it!? lol

Same cuts to the 4x8' Sheet of Poly... By the way.. For anyone questioning why I purchased 1" over the others. Believe it or not, the 1" was less than the 3/4" and 1/2" sheets. They had refelctive material on one side though.