Acrylic Care

Acrylic Aquarium Care




Your acrylic aquarium will provide a life  time of enjoyment of your aquatic display. A fish tank built from acrylic is  attractive because acrylic's their unique properties of clarity, strength, and
versatility. However, acrylic aquariums do require care during maintenance and
cleaning. The following are some recommendations for maintaining your acrylic
aquarium to provide a life time of enjoyment.

Supporting an Acrylic Aquarium.
ALWAYS use a solid  surface to support your acrylic aquarium. Use of a perimeter support stand will  lead to sagging and undue pressure on the seams. Use of a perimeter stand will  void your Tenecor Warranty.


 Cleaners
   DO NOT use any product which contains  AMMONIA, ALCOHOL, or ABRASIVES, such as Windex, Comet, Ajax, or other commercial cleaners when cleaning an acrylic aquarium. Use of such cleaners will cause the  acrylic to permanently lose it's clarity. A soft cloth and water, or a polish
made specifically for acrylic, should be used for cleaning.


 DO NOT expose your acrylic fish tank to paints, varnishes,  turpentine, or their fumes. Exposure to these chemicals will cause crazing and  loss of clarity.


 For regular maintenance, Get Tanked recommends cleaners that are
specifically designed for acrylic, such as Novus® and Plexus®. Many other
cleaners contain chemicals which will penetrate the pores in acrylic and cause
damage which shows as fine lines or haziness. Plexus® aids in the removal of
fine scratches and abrasions and will actually help protect the acrylic from
accidental exposure to harmful chemicals.



Cleaning Aquariums With Bleach
 On occasions where a complete cleaning of the aquarium is required, such as a change from saltwater
to freshwater or after prolonged storage, the use of chlorine bleach can be very
effective. A half gallon of bleach mixed with 20 gallons of water or more is
great for sterilization and is perfectly safe for acrylic.



Polishing Cloths & Sponges
            Acrylic should always
be cleaned with a good quality soft cloth. Special polishing clothes are
available from Get Tanked and are the best guarantee of a lasting finish. As a
substitute, a soft cotton cloth or high grade paper towel can be used
occasionally. DO NOT use commercial grade paper towels or
newsprint.



DO NOT use coarse sponges or pads to clean acrylic aquariums. If you
do use a sponge or pad, make sure it's designed for use with acrylic
aquariums.



Removing Calcareous Algae and Diatoms
            Some aquarium
growths, such as calcareous algae and diatoms, are very hard and can be
difficult to remove with standard cleaning pads. Simply use a plastic card such
as a credit card, drivers license, or plastic putty knife to scrape growths from
the acrylic. Using the edge will transfer more pressure to the growth, reducing
the work, and because the card is still relatively soft it won't damage the
acrylic. Several scrapers designed specifically for use with acrylic aquariums
are now commercially available.