Best way to scrub glass without scratching?

[aquaholic]

I get this Green/Brown algea spots on the glass that I cant seem to take off other then with a scraper, but I noticed that It leaves small scratches here and there and that means that before I know it my glass will be horrible. any good advice on this?? are the magnets any good?? I was thinking maybe If I used magnets and cleaned verry often enough to prevent those nasty algea spots.

[Bk828]

the magnets work well, just make sure there is no sand/substrate stuck in the scrub part.. Also invest in a rough sponge, i got a big brick of it from lfs and just away a piece when i need one.

[aquaholic]

I tryied a rough sponge and It wont take anything off, and when I got one a little bit rougher then its start make tiny hairlike scratches:(

[Bk828]

really? my sponge seems to take everything off the glass. Not sure what to tell you, glass is not supposed to scratch this easily.

[Riiz]

Yeah, I just use mag-floats to keep my arms dry, but for tough stuff, I use a plastic razor-blade or an old credit card, even have a reusable sponge I got from petsmart.

[aquaholic]

Anybody know of some good magnets? Petsmart online has some for xl tank glass up to 3/4 for $36

[Riiz]

Thats where I got all my mag-floats, I print out their online page with the price and take it into their stores to pricematch it with.

[JohnSmith]

I get this Green/Brown algea spots on the glass that I cant seem to take off other then with a scraper, but I noticed that It leaves small scratches here and there and that means that before I know it my glass will be horrible. any good advice on this?? are the magnets any good?? I was thinking maybe If I used magnets and cleaned verry often enough to prevent those nasty algea spots.

I have never seen glass scratch that easy. Indeed, I have used razor blades for years, with a bit of care, and "angle of attack" kept low--yet effective, I have never had problems with scratching the glass. Sometimes a green pad does it for me ...

What do you have, a plastic/acrylic tank?

Regards,
JS

[Fishy_Fun]

Nothing is better than a mag-float

[aquaholic]

http://www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2750630

No, I dont have a plastic tank, even though it feels like it:( Maybe I just got a bad set of blades. I have an "ALL GLASS" Tank

[Riiz]

Maybe the blade wasnt perfectly flat?

[aquaholic]

maybe its just a bad type of algea, I kept fish for a couple of years now and never had these happen, usualy worst case senerial was a credit card and a good sponge. since I moved into this house (like 7-8month ago) with community well water I started getting this nasty algea that just wont come off, I spend so much time on the front of the glass I dont even care about the back and sides anymore:(

[JohnSmith]

maybe its just a bad type of algea, I kept fish for a couple of years now and never had these happen, usualy worst case senerial was a credit card and a good sponge. since I moved into this house (like 7-8month ago) with community well water I started getting this nasty algea that just wont come off, I spend so much time on the front of the glass I dont even care about the back and sides anymore:(

Hmmm, I have well water here. And, I have seen algae, had problems with it/them, the likes of which I have NEVER seen before.

However, I am not so sure these came from the well, however, I do think the well water may feed them very effectively.

When in Petco today, I noticed a brown algae similar to the one now invading all my tanks and number one on my hit list. I suspect, this has been introduced into the "tropical fish/plant stream" from a source of unknown origin. If that source is a large commercial grower, or some 3rd world country resource, who knows?

Regards,
JS

[aquaholic]

I talked to a locally owned lfs owner because I saw the same kind of algea and he said that he uses blades but he did notice scratches too, he said he aslo cant get it off with anything but blades.

[CBWMN]

I use fine steel wool from Home Depot. Works great & won't scratch the glass.

Charles

[msouth468]

I get some really tough brown algae and the only way I can get it off is with a regular sponge with a green rough side and a whole lot of elbow grease. Algae is tough, but not that tough. If you are really having a bunch of troubles then it could also be mineral deposits from the well sticking to the glass as well.

Also, if a rough sponge is scratching your glass aquarium then you probably don't have a glass aquarium and have been fooled on the "all glass" classification. It takes really hard plastic to scratch glass and all run of the mill sponges shouldn't come close to scratching the glass. It isn't uncommon for acrylic to be mistaken for glass.

[jmhart]

If sponges are scratching your aquarium, I tend to lean towards two options:

A)It's not glass. I'll tell you, I've seen some tanks that it just wasn't easy to tell.

B)You aren't actually scratching it....perhaps there is a buildup of some kind that you've become used to, but when disturbed, it looks like the glass is scratched.

My recommendation is also a MagFloat...I got mine from Drs. Foster and Smith.

[aquaholic]

OH its scratches allright. I will get some pics and see if scratches will be visible on them to post.

[phanmc]

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+3728+4063&pcatid=4063

This stuff will remove anything, you just need to do a lot of scrubbing.

If the acrylic scrub pads are still scratching your glass tank then it's time to get a new tank.

[DAVIDFBT]

I personally use a plastic putty knife with a steel edge to scrape away the algae. IMO, it was the best $4 I've spent for algae control.

[lovemybarbs]

I use an old Sam's Club membership card. Works great!

[JohnSmith]

I like green pads. You can get 5, 4x6 for a buck, here, at the dollar store--but I WOULD NOT USE THEM ON PLASTIC.

If a razor blade, held at a low angle scratches your tank, STOP, it ain't glass--and don't even use a green pad!

... end of story ...

Regards,
JS

[Rbishop]

elbow grease....

[murraycod]

Is it worth having some plants at hand to introduce after the mags or whatever have cleaned up? Maybe uptake of excess nutrient will delay a recurrence.....

[Fishy_Fun]

I just used a razor blade today and that will get off just about anything

[mel_20_20]

How does a mag float work? I'm a newbie. I have a mystery snail and 2 otos in my 10 gal, and since I got them and planted live plants, my algae has been under control, so far.

If I start to have a problem again I'd like to get the magfloat, but I'd be really interested in knowing exactly how it works.
Thanks

[Riiz]

A mag-float is a brand of magnet algae remover, its basically two strong magnets, one on each side of the glass. The interior magnet has a glass or acrylic safe abrasive to scrap algae and the exterior side, the side you hold, so you dont get your hands wet, has a felt pad to allow it to glide over the glass and not scratch it. The mag-float is diifferent from the common magnet-scrapers, because the other halves will float if it loses magnetic attraction to the exterior magnet.

[aquaholic]

Here is what a sponge did, Good thing I noticed it early and stopped.

mag-floats: I saw the ones that dont float but sink upright so you can pick it back up without geting wet. Thats what petsmart carries. those any good??

[lovemybarbs]

:omg:

[Riiz]

Yeah I use the mag-floats from petsmart, I have one each in my larger tanks, and my 20gals share one.

[JohnSmith]

Here is what a sponge did, Good thing I noticed it early and stopped.

mag-floats: I saw the ones that dont float but sink upright so you can pick it back up without geting wet. Thats what petsmart carries. those any good??

If a sponge did that, I would say that is a plastic tank ...

Regards,
JS

[DAVIDFBT]

I think that sponge may have the genes of steel wool if it did that to your tank.

[aquaholic]

no just like I said I was trying a plain soft aquarium sponge and it wouldnt take anything off, so I grabbed a little ruffer sponge and when I got it wet it wasn't rough at all, but it messed up my glass(still belive its glass) Just think it might have had some sand or dust particles on it that did that scratching:( I ordered some magnets and algea scrappers so I think I should be fine:) I just thought maybe there is something else out there that I dont know of.

[jmhart]

Was it just some generic sponge, or was it something sold specifically for aquariums. If it's sold for glass aquariums and was used on a glass aquarium, I'd contact the manufacturer for restitution...cost of a new tank.

[Fishy_Fun]

I have never seen glass scratch so easily.Now acrylic is another story, If you look at wrong it'll scratch lol

[Star_Rider]

glass is pretty hard ,a sponge should not do this to glass.
could this possibly be residue left behind by the sponge?
have you tried a razor blade on this to see if you can feel the scratch?

[aquaholic]

My magnets came in today and the side that goes into the tank is just a velcro , do I need to find velcro pads to attach or do I just use it as is with the velcro cleaning the glass??

[SuBXeRo]

tbh, i went out and bought the blu shop towels from autozone as they dont deteriorate in water and they work great. The best results will come from you using your hands.

[Virtuoso2K12]

Have you tried using paper towel and just give it a good rub?Works for me :)

[kog]

My magnets came in today and the side that goes into the tank is just a velcro , do I need to find velcro pads to attach or do I just use it as is with the velcro cleaning the glass??
hmm it should have been soft like felt, maybe you have to attatch your own.
dont use the velcro as is.

i also used paper towels :)

[Virtuoso2K12]

...um i just realize this thread was back from 2008 :0,silly me.

[kog]

lol oops...