Are high end Algae magnets worth the cost?

[skraj011]

I have an magfloat for my 125 fowlr. It does an ok job, but still takes me a fair amount of time to clean the glass and coralline won't come off at all.

Do people think that the expensive algae magnets are worth it? Are they much better than magfloats?

[tinkerman]

I got a hammerhead for my 125 with scaper attachment. I don't use the scaper that much as I only have to go back and forth 3 times and its clean. The magnet is strong enough to bruise the fingers if you let it go with fingers inbetween.

[jmahfouz]

Absolutely defineditely worth the money especially if its acrylic

[rkaires]

Check out Mighty Magnets. The algae dozer pad make removing coralline a snap.

http://www.mightymagnets.com/pads.htm

[skraj011]

Originally Posted by rkaires

Check out Mighty Magnets. The algae dozer pad make removing coralline a snap.

http://www.mightymagnets.com/pads.htm

are mighty magnets only available direct?

[skraj011]

Originally Posted by tinkerman

I got a hammerhead for my 125 with scaper attachment. I don't use the scaper that much as I only have to go back and forth 3 times and its clean. The magnet is strong enough to bruise the fingers if you let it go with fingers inbetween.

do you think the piranha would be good enough for a standard glass 125?

[tinkerman]

Not sure this is the only one I have had other than mag floats and the cheap petco ones. Says it is rated for up to 125 gal, I went with the hammerhead just because 125 gal is in the smaller side of its rating. I am very happy with the hammerhead. It takes some effort to push it across the glass and dosn't have any of that chatter when moving. Its an extra $10 difference, I would end up kicking myself if I got the smaller one and wasn't happy with it. Mine will take everything off the other mag floats wouldn't i 3 swipes, if I am going after coraline I put the sraper blade in. I could see it taking it off though the inside pad is a velcro material and pretty stiff.

[rkaires]

Originally Posted by skraj011

are mighty magnets only available direct?

As far as I know yes. They are one of the few products that work as advertised.

[aleonn]

I got tired of my Mag Floats, and am now very happy with the Hammer Head. It takes less swipes to clear the algae from the glass.

[murphreef]

for thicker larger tanks then yes the nicer mags work great i had a pirhana on my 180 and that thing would make quick work of coraline...

now i have a lil magfloat on my 25g tank but i dont mind since its such a small tank going back and forth a few times extra

[svb57]

Try this.....

http://www.oceansmotions.com/store/p...902f9464dea1a5

It glues to the MAg Float and scrapes the GLASS great.

I have one and placing another on order.

[chem-e]

I have a mighty magnet and although I'm glad that I bought this cleaner, I find that I still need to manual clean the glass, especially around the edges/corners.

I also have a cheaper Magfloat, but the mighty magnet is much nicer and actually cleans the glass. However, just don't expect it to do everything.

[moondoggy4]

I have a Piranha on my 120 glass tank I love it, I use my mag Floats to hold things in my sump.

[redfishblewfish]

I have something similar to svb57, but a simpler design and less expensive. It’s a Reef Gadget and I have it glued to a Mag Float. Works great.

[mordinad]

+1 hammerhead. It's beautiful and functional. I use this in conjunction with a 36" kent scraper near the sand bed and small frags. Tank is 1/2" thick. Just get the magnet that matches your tank thickness. Too strong of a magnet and when you go around a corner it will slam against your glass. Haven't heard anyone damaging their tank yet but who knows.

[d0ughb0y]

Originally Posted by skraj011

I have an magfloat for my 125 fowlr. It does an ok job, but still takes me a fair amount of time to clean the glass and coralline won't come off at all.

Do people think that the expensive algae magnets are worth it? Are they much better than magfloats?

I have the hammerhead, so my answer to your question in a word is, no.

Originally Posted by rkaires

Check out Mighty Magnets. The algae dozer pad make removing coralline a snap.

http://www.mightymagnets.com/pads.htm

you can use your magfloat together with an algae cutter sleeve. But dont waste your money on the algae dozer or cutter sleeve from mighty magnets. Just go to walmart and get the dobie pad, its like 2 for under $3. It is EXACTLY the same material as the $5 cutter sleeve. The dozer is nothing more than a piece of plastic superglued to an acrylic scrubbing pad.

I had the same question as you and purchased the hammerhead and the algae cutter sleeve and dozer. so my answer is not based on something I read. Those products do work, but your question is if they are worth it and my answer is no because you can acheive the same results by spending way less.

btw, as for coraline, you need a scraper with blade for that. some use paint scraper. magnet cleaners by themselves will not remove coraline, even the higher priced ones. the trick is, once you scrape them off, you need to be diligent to scrape them off as soon as you see them before they go out of hand.