Best way to scrub glass without scratching?
- Thread starter aquaholic
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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.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
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
OH its scratches allright. I will get some pics and see if scratches will be visible on them to post.
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.
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.
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.
