RE: [GSAS-Member] Safe in Tank Acrylic Sandpaper

["Hess, Clay A" <clay.a.hess@boeing.com>]

I will suggest again that you do not want to sand your tank with the
fish in the tank. Plexiglas particles and the particles from the
sandpaper were never meant to be part of the fish environment.  Although
you may not recognize any significant impact to your fish immediately,
neither do humans recognize lung damage immediately from fine particle
exposure (look at asbestos as a perfect example).  Similarly, skin or
external damage does not always appear immediately either (fiberglass is
an excellent example for this one).  
I know that I have seen much written recently about the care we take to
make our tanks not feel like "prisons", the care we take in creating the
perfect balanced diet for our fish, the care we take in getting the
lighting just right for our plants.  Soooooooo, it begs the question,
why would anyone, that takes this much care with their fish, take a
chance on sanding the inside of their tank while the fish are in it?  It
is just not worth the risk in my humble opinion.

Clay

-----Original Message-----
From: Susan Welenofsky [mailto:welenofsky@comcast.net] 
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 1:03 PM
To: 'Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member chat'
Subject: RE: [GSAS-Member] Safe in Tank Acrylic Sandpaper


I found McGuire's 2500 sandpaper ($20 per box, must buy whole package).
I bought 2000 wet/dry grit today (5 sheets, $8). I'm going to use the
sander. They have finer grits at a different store, in Kirkland. So, I
can safely use the black wet/dry sandpaper while the fish are in the
tank? I would buy a package of that or 3,000 if someone wants to split
it with me. I can get an auto dealer/worker discount on the stuff.

Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com
[mailto:gsas-member-bounces@thekrib.com] On Behalf Of Paul Winchester
Sent: Monday, April 04, 2005 10:43 AM
To: gsas-member@thekrib.com
Subject: RE: [GSAS-Member] Safe in Tank Acrylic Sandpaper

I have successfully used the black wet dry paper in a couple of my
acrylic 
tanks. I have heard that the micromesh works well but have not found it 
locally in a fine grit.

Depending on the depth of the scratch I would use 400-1800 grit, the 400
for

only the really deep scratches, then follow with 600-800 and then
1200-1800.

I sand in same the direction as the scratch. For teeth marks I would
sand in

a circular motion and probably use 1200 first.

You might want to start with the fine 1200-1800 first to see the effect,
but

the finer paper requires more effort to see the results. Be sure to
always 
progress from the course paper to fine. Sand as little as possible to 
prevent the area from looking distorted.

After using the fine 1200-1800 grit paper the arcrylic can be polished
with 
a cloth and some of the arcylic polishing compound available at the
stores. 
I think similar results could achieved using other polishing substances,

like baking soda. If you didnt use too much it shouldnt changes the ph
much.

>From: "Susan Welenofsky" <welenofsky@comcast.net>
>Reply-To: Greater Seattle Aquarium Society member
>chat<gsas-member@thekrib.com>
>To: "GSAS Member Chat" <gsas-member@thekrib.com>
>Subject: [GSAS-Member] Safe in Tank Acrylic Sandpaper
>Date: Mon, 4 Apr 2005 10:50:26 -0700
>
>What is a good, safe, in tank sandpaper? I believe I have a lot of
>scratches
>on the acrylic surface from tooth marks from a pleco. I read something 
>about
>micromesh being safe. I was also wondering if the black wet/dry auto
>sandpaper was safe to use. I know they sell acrylic scratch kits that
are
>safe to use in aquariums, with fish, but they are quite expensive.
>
>
>
>Susan
>
>_______________________________________________
>GSAS-Member mailing list
>GSAS-Member@thekrib.com 
>http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member


_______________________________________________
GSAS-Member mailing list
GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member



_______________________________________________
GSAS-Member mailing list
GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member

_______________________________________________
GSAS-Member mailing list
GSAS-Member@thekrib.com
http://lists.thekrib.com/mailman/listinfo/gsas-member