Why buy a algae scrapper?

[mhhauser]

I was just thinking about it and if you use a algae scrapper on you tank wouldn't you only be providing a temporary fix. I mean you are just scrapping it, if you have a real algae problem it would come right back.

Its just a temporary fix. You need to make your water conditions right for there to be no algae not just scrape it of.

anyways thats just my opinion any thoughts on that.

 

[Leopardess]

Algae scrapers are typically used only for the viewing planes of glass, sometimes even only the front panel to make for a perfectly clear viewing experience....not necessarily to remove large amounts of algae. Also, much of the algae that grows on surfaces like glass are not "bad" algaes and are the types that will be common in healthy systems. Green spot algae is one such instance (though a razor blade is much more effective for removing it). An aquarium with absolutley no algae whatsoever anywhere, is an exceptionally rare thing (if at all possible)...and not very natural at that.

But yes, too many people look for quick fixes to algae problems (such as chemical cocktails). That, I agree, is not the place to head.

 

[sumthin fishy]

Right Leo! i have a few little spots of algae in my 10 gal. If I scrape it all off, from the decor, and the glass, etc. what will my cute wittow ottows eat?! (yea I know... ) But I have the algae scraper to clean the front and back panels of glass to get that "clean" look to my tank. I actually like the look on the rocks, and in my 55 Ive yet to encounter any significant algae build up(its relativly new) but if I do I will simply scrape it off the front and back, doing a good WC shortly thereafter.

 

[Leopardess]

Hehe, I also leave the back and sides of the aquarium unscraped for the otos and my little pleco. I will clean them for aquascaping photoshoots and then feel bad about taking away their fresh food!

 

[joephys]

For some reason I get very little algae growth. I put a glass of water from my gold fish tank, and left it in my window for 2 weeks, no algae. My 29 gallon though, gets a small amount of algae that makes the glass look a little cloudy so I use my scraper to clean it off about once a month.

 

[Midas-n-Titus]

someone suggested a credit card the other day. I found a used gift card I had... worked great!

 

[Roan Art]

For some reason I get very little algae growth. I put a glass of water from my gold fish tank, and left it in my window for 2 weeks, no algae. My 29 gallon though, gets a small amount of algae that makes the glass look a little cloudy so I use my scraper to clean it off about once a month.

You probably have no phosphates in your tap water

Roan

 

[YuccaPatrol]

someone suggested a credit card the other day. I found a used gift card I had... worked great!

I am going to try that because I think I might have made a couple scratches in the glass with the razor.

 

[kveeti]

what will my cute wittow ottows eat?! (yea I know... )

You talk to them that way and they'll NEVER learn to speak proper English.

***
I use the credit card, works great and cheap, too.

 

[Genral72]

Agae grow exponetially so that means that scraping it off will slow the growth however check out the article I wrote that was one of the less important things. http://www.aquariacentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=68454 Tell me what you think. Please i need improvements!