*Read all of the instructions before starting the project*

Additional items needed:
Masking tape – blue or green only
Plastic / tarps
Clean spray bottle
A timing device – watch, stop watch
Pen and paper
Towels

This kit can be used to polish the outside of the aquarium or polish under water 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
Layout 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 a wax pencil. Using the wax pencil make a 6” square around each scratch; always polish within these squares. If a wax pencil is not available, mark the area with blue or green masking tape.

Using a sheet of paper, make a grid chart to represent 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 dry polishing, start with the liquid abrasive. If wet 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 sander kit.

Spray or wet the area to be sanded making sure that the area is consistently moist throughout the process. If a spray bottle is not available, use a wet cloth and squeeze the water on the surface.

Using the timing device, write down the start time and begin sanding.

Using the proper sanding grit, carefully work the damaged area using a straight line motion. Do not use a circular motion. Keeping the area moist, 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.

Choose the pad with the next finer grit, spray your work surface with water and carefully work the new grit in a straight line motion, but this time crossing your previous scratch pattern at a 90 degree angle. Polish until the previous scratch pattern has been removed. 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.

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 the more time it will require to remove them.

Once a new scratch pattern has been established, stop and write down the grit and time. Reset the timer and clean the work surface. By tracking the time, a pattern is being established for the next area of scratches. An example of a pattern might be using an1800 grit for 7 minutes, 2400 grit for 6 minutes, 3200 grit for 5 minutes, 3600 grit for 4 minutes and liquid abrasive for 12 minutes. Once the damage has been removed, the same time sequence can be used for other scratches with consistent results. There is no need to check progress every two or three minutes when this process is used. This is one of the very few places where some time can be saved.

Proceed with all of the above steps, using a finer grit each time. If polishing underwater, go through all sanding pads in the kit. If wet polishing out side the tank, only go through the 3600 grit and then switch to the liquid abrasive.

Using the liquid abrasive (not for under water polishing)
Mist the cloth and the work surface with water. Apply a nickel-sized amount of liquid abrasive on flannel cloth. Note the time started and begin to work the liquid in a circular motion over the scratch patterns. This process usually takes about 12 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 flannel cloth. Carefully remove all tape and plastic. Wash off all sanding pads with fresh water and store in a dry place.

For questions or comments about any of these instructions or our products, please don’t hesitate to send us an e-mail at info@etr-inc.com Also be sure to send us your success stories.