*Read all of the instructions before starting the project*

Additional items required:
Masking tape – blue or green only
Plastic / tarps
Towels

This kit can be used to polish the outside of the aquarium or polish underwater on the inside of the tank.  If there are inhabitants in the tank, there needs to be adequate mechanical filtration and water flow; an under gravel filtration system is not sufficient.  We recommend rinsing the filter media after each polishing job.  
  
Preparation
Lay out and organize all tools and supplies in a convenient and easy to reach location.  Fill the spray bottle with clean water and a drop of dish cleaning liquid such as Dawn.

Make sure the surrounding area is taped off and protected by plastic sheeting and blue or green masking tape. It is a good idea to keep several towels on hand.

Mark all of the scratches on the outside of the tank with the wax pencil.  Using the wax pencil make a 6” square around each scratch; always polish within these squares.  

Use the grid chart as a segmented representation of the aquarium.  Mark the approximate location and size of the scratches on the grid chart.

Remove the scratches
Feel the scratches with a finger to determine approximate depth.  Choose the deepest scratch and start in that square.  To determine the starting grit use the guidelines below.

• Hairline Scratches:  Many very light scratches- haziness.  Hairline scratches will appear like circular patterns or a halo effect.  These scratches cannot be felt with a fingernail.  If wet/dry polishing, start with the liquid abrasive.  If underwater polishing, start with 3600 grit.
• Minor scratches:  Just barely felt with a fingernail, start with 2400 grit.
• Major scratches:  Easily felt with a fingernail, start with 1800 grit. 
• Deep scratches:  Easily felt with a fingertip, start with 1500 grit
• Severe scratches:  Deeper scratches will require a drill or sander kit. 

Spray the area to be sanded making sure that the area is consistently wet throughout the process.  Start the timer at this point.

Always sand against the direction of the scratch.  For example, if the scratch is vertical (up and down) then start sanding horizontally (left to right) against the scratch.  Using the proper sanding grit, carefully sand the damaged area using a straight-line motion.  Do not use a circular motion.  Keeping the area wet, create a uniform scratch pattern in one direction until all of the damage has been removed.  When this step is complete, write down the grit used and length of time spent polishing in the corresponding square on the grid chart.  Reset the timer and clean the work surface with plenty of water to remove contaminants and acrylic particles.

Next change pads to the next finer grit.  Sand against the direction of the previous scratch pattern.  For example, if the scratch pattern is horizontal, start sanding vertically.  Start the timer, spray the work surface and carefully sand in a straight-line motion until the previous scratch pattern is no longer visible.  Fan or spread the sanding pattern out from the damage about an inch with each step, keeping inside the wax pencil lines.  Fanning the sanding pattern out helps reduce the chance of optical distortion from sanding in one place too long.  When this step is complete, write down the grit used and length of time spent polishing in the corresponding square on the grid chart.  Reset the timer and clean the work surface with plenty of water.

Check the progress every 2 to 3 minutes. The process will usually take about 6 minutes for every grit.  If the rate of removal seems too slow or does not appear to be working after 6 minutes, move to the next coarser grit.  The deeper the scratches put onto the surface by sanding the more time it will require to remove them.  

Once you remove a single scratch, refer to your grid chart.  By tracking the times, a pattern has been established for the next area of scratches.  For example, you may have started with 1800 grit for 7 minutes, 2400 grit for 6 minutes, 3200 grit for 5 minutes, 3600 grit for 4 minutes and Liquid Abrasive for 6 minutes.  Once the damage has been removed, the same time sequence can be used for similar scratches in other areas of the tank.  At this point, there is no need to check the progress every two or three minutes; just follow your pattern. 

Proceed with all of the above steps using a finer grit each time.  Remove all damage on the panel one grit at a time.  If polishing underwater, go through all sanding pads in the kit.  If wet/dry polishing on the outside of the tank, go through all sanding pads and then switch to the liquid abrasive.

Using the Liquid Abrasive  (not for underwater polishing)
Mist the cloth and the work surface with clean water.  Apply a nickel-sized amount of liquid abrasive on polishing cloth.  Note the time started and begin to rub the liquid in a circular motion over the scratch patterns.  Stop every so often to re-apply more liquid abrasive.  This process usually takes about 6 minutes per 6 square inches.  Once this process is complete, there should be no more visible scratch patterns.  If hairline scratches still exist, continue polishing with the liquid abrasive until they are no longer visible.

After all scratches have been removed, wipe down the entire tank with the polishing cloth and water.  Carefully remove all tape and plastic.  Wash off all sanding pads with fresh water and store in a dry place.