Thoughts, frustrations, etc...

[enchanted]

Well, it seems like everytime I turn around something goes wrong or isn't right. I want a nice display tank for my living room for multiple reasons, but one because I want to be able to get good pictures of my fish. The current tank I have was purchased used and has scratches in the glass that are visible in pictures. What amazes me is all the other tanks I have don't have this problem and they were all purchased used.

Then I built a DIY CO2 reactor which in turn while working on my canister to install it I broke the clip for my aquastop connector for my Fluval and the primer stick.

I have a heater that went out on me also, that was used and the aquaclear 500 I recieved makes such a rackit on the 55 Gallon in my bedroom that I unplug it at night and just leave the Penguin 170 running.

Plus I need bulbs for the CF to replace the actnic that are in there and the CO2 reactor I built has a very small and slow leak where the CO2 hose connects.

I'm almost at a point of just saying screw it and not doing anything more until I can just start replacing every used piece with new.

This is on top of the bottom seal blowing on the 55 Gallon a while back (prior to the 125 Gallon).

I am very tempted to sell off all the used tanks I can, purchase a brand new 125 Gallon, built my wall cabinet for it and set it up then sell of this 125 Gallon, purchase a new 125 Gallon for my puffers to go salt then sell off that 55 Gallon and start all over with new stuff.

I'm probably just extremely frustrated and irate and in a few days I will realize I'm better off to fix everything. But I have no clue how, or if I even can, fix scratches in glass. I also can't figure out how to get the hardwater marks off a couple of the used tanks. More frustrations.

 

[Ben]

im sorry to hear about all your problems

thats the problem with second hand tanks, you dont really know whats wrong with them untill you use them. when i go check second hand tanks i usually ask to see them full of water so i can check for any problems

DD

 

[enchanted]

Well, the 55 gallon I was so happy with was fine for over 3 weeks before the seals blew on the bottom.

Little large, but here is a picture:

55 Gallon

Not a scratch on it and it was so "clear".....

Part of my problem with the 125 Gallon could be the Actnic bulbs, that is what others have told me, but some of it stems directly from things like this:

Sunset Fire Gourami w/ scratchs

Sunset Fire Gourami w/ scratches 2

Then the problems with the Fluval, combined with the Aquaclear 500.

And to top it off if you look at the top left of this picture you can see just how bad the hardwater marks are on this tank. I tried vinegar and I hit it with a sponge good everytime I do a water change:

Hardwater marks

I can't complain about the total money I have involved for what I have, but you know what? I would rather just have one large tank that works perfect and I can take perfect pictures in, etc... Than have the quantity of tanks I do.

I don't know if scratches on aquariums can be repaired or how to remove the hard water stains.

 

[charmd2]

IF the aquarium is glass and not plastic, I use a flat razor blade. Works perfect. I'm not sure about using one on a plastic tank.

They do have eyeglass repair kits to repair scratches. BUT I'm not sure how safe it would be to use on a fish tank. If you were going to try this route, be sure to empty the tank and rinse well afterwards. I think the repair kits are at our walmart for less than $10.

Is the back side of the tank less scratched up than the front side?? IF so it might be worth turning the tank around. I know LOTS of effort for large tanks, but to get good pics it might be worth it.

 

[enchanted]

They are both scratched about the same and yes it is glass.

I'm working out replacing the 125 in the living room with a new tank and then I'm going to do this:
http/www.fitchfamily.com/glass.html

Hopefully that will clear all the scratches.

As for the hardwater, someone recommendced Lemon Juice. I'm a little leary of using a razor blade due to the scratches (which I didn't put their) on the 125.

Edit: Corrected link for scratch repair.

 

[BobK]

Hey Enchanted. This happens to all of us at one time or another. Hang in there. Don't give up on the old tanks. You'd be sorry if you did. Hang in there and when you can start replacing some of the equipment. We all would go out and buy the best of everything if we could but we just have to make do with what we have. I'm sure you're doing a great job anyway, and, hopefully, by the time you read this you'll be in much better spirits!!!!!

You can use a razorblade on the hardwater stains as charmd2 mentioned. I've never scratched a tank with one. Just be sure to hold the blade flat against the glass and go slowly and be careful, they're sharp (yeah, I've cut myself before). When you used vinegar, did you let it soak for a while? I think vinegar is better than lemon juice but I'm not 100% on that. Have you ever heard of a product called CLR (Calcium, Lime, Rust)? That definitely will remove the mineral deposits but you would have to wash and rinse the tank very thoroughly.