becareful with magfloat + sugar sand

jubjub · 02/26/2010, 10:25 AM

just a tip to all the newbies out there and even the others....sugar sand and magfloats are a bad thing...really started looking and i think thats where 95% of all my scratches came from...UGH!

tip always wash the magfloat off, as well as only use a razor or other form of scraper down towards the bottom of the tank so you dont pick any sand up in the magfloat

Chris27 · 02/26/2010, 10:32 AM

Magfloat + sugar sand + kids + Dad's business trip = Very, very mad daddy when he gets home.

lordofthereef · 02/26/2010, 12:03 PM

IMO any kind of sand you have, if you are cleaning with a magnet, clean only 4/5 of the glass with a magnet and then get that last bottom 1/5 by some other means such as a glass/acrylic pad by hand.

AARON167 · 02/26/2010, 12:48 PM

I learned the hard way as well

dwd5813 · 02/26/2010, 03:14 PM

yep, learned that with my cichlid tank. now i have one of the kent scrapers on a stick for the bottom few inches of the glass.

Saltwaternoob · 02/26/2010, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris27

Magfloat + sugar sand + kids + Dad's business trip = Very, very mad daddy when he gets home.

My nephews did the same thing when they were staying here. Thankfully it was the tank that already had a few scratches in it and not my other tank

steggie · 02/26/2010, 04:11 PM

Same here, I also learned the hard way!

cloak · 02/26/2010, 04:20 PM

If you happen to leave your mag float attached to the glass for any length of time, make sure to check in between for spirorbid worms. The calcareous shell they have will scratch the hell out of the glass too.

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/spirorbid_worms.html

Saltyllama · 02/26/2010, 04:38 PM

I have threatened bodily harm to many who have touched or attemted to touch my mag cleaner. I keep it in the tank but always give the pad a check before cleaning the tank.

Indymann99 · 02/26/2010, 07:50 PM

FYI, for cleaning your acrylic tank I have switched to Mr Clean Magic Eraser and it works great. I also use a acrylic safe blade for the last 3 inches above the sand.

fishaman · 02/26/2010, 11:10 PM

I fell victim also. Is there a person cleaner for the sand? Also, is there a way to repair or hide the scratches?

DaveAngie79 · 02/26/2010, 11:43 PM

also learned these things the hard way

kotu100 · 02/26/2010, 11:49 PM

sad to say i learned this the hard way as well, the part that really hurts, was it happened 2 days after i got my brand new tank!

dots · 02/27/2010, 12:26 PM

Correct, I used a razor blade on mine primarily and used a mag on top for brushing off daily accumulation only.

jquailus1 · 02/27/2010, 07:45 PM

just one more benefit of going bb

dwd5813 · 02/27/2010, 07:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jquailus1

just one more benefit of going bb

that may be, but the below is still a concern. in the end, it's best to either keep the magfloat out of the water until you need to use it (which i can't seem to do since i'm lazy like that

) or inspect carefully before each use.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cloak

If you happen to leave your mag float attached to the glass for any length of time, make sure to check in between for spirorbid worms. The calcareous shell they have will scratch the hell out of the glass too.

http://www.melevsreef.com/id/spirorbid_worms.html

02/26/2010, 10:25 AM	#1
jubjub Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: vacaville, cali Posts: 2,698	becareful with magfloat + sugar sand just a tip to all the newbies out there and even the others....sugar sand and magfloats are a bad thing...really started looking and i think thats where 95% of all my scratches came from...UGH! tip always wash the magfloat off, as well as only use a razor or other form of scraper down towards the bottom of the tank so you dont pick any sand up in the magfloat __________________ "The world holds two classes of men - intelligent men without religion, and religious men without intelligence." - Abu Ala Al-Maari

02/26/2010, 12:03 PM	#3
lordofthereef One reef to rule them all Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Leominster, MA Posts: 5,299	IMO any kind of sand you have, if you are cleaning with a magnet, clean only 4/5 of the glass with a magnet and then get that last bottom 1/5 by some other means such as a glass/acrylic pad by hand. __________________ "A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than you love yourself" ~ Josh Billings Visit My Home page for current build thread (click my user name and select "Visit LordoftheReef's Homepage" in the drop down menu!

02/26/2010, 03:14 PM	#5
dwd5813 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: 813 Posts: 2,827	yep, learned that with my cichlid tank. now i have one of the kent scrapers on a stick for the bottom few inches of the glass. __________________ order some golf shoes, otherwise we'll never get out of this place alive. what can i say? in dog beers, i have only had one. - dublo8 Current Tank Info: 40B aiptasia farm

02/26/2010, 07:50 PM	#10
Indymann99 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Indianapolis Posts: 2,447	FYI, for cleaning your acrylic tank I have switched to Mr Clean Magic Eraser and it works great. I also use a acrylic safe blade for the last 3 inches above the sand. __________________ 120g DT 100lbs LR / 200 lbs LS, 45g fuge, VectraM1 Return, Herbie drain, 4x RW-8, 2x AI Hydra 26 w AWM, ASM G2, Apex controller, Apex BoB w floats ATO

02/26/2010, 11:10 PM	#11
fishaman Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: New Jersey Posts: 163	I fell victim also. Is there a person cleaner for the sand? Also, is there a way to repair or hide the scratches? __________________ (1) Foxface (2) Skunk Clowns (4) Osc Clowns (Nemo) (1) lawnmower blenny (1) Orange Goby (1) bullet goby (1) yellow tang (1) hippo tang (1) firefish (2) purple firefish (1) blue damsel (1) fireshrimp (4) peppermint shrimp (2) emerald crabs (1) engineer goby A few (10) pieces of corals (all frags) A host of snails and blue leg crabs If I had it my way, I would spend half my day fishing and the other half watching my fish! Fishaman Current Tank Info: 180 Gallon Saltwater

02/26/2010, 10:32 AM	#2
Chris27 Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Virginia Beach, VA Posts: 4,452	Magfloat + sugar sand + kids + Dad's business trip = Very, very mad daddy when he gets home.

02/26/2010, 12:48 PM	#4
AARON167 Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Hang on little buddy Posts: 105	I learned the hard way as well

02/26/2010, 04:11 PM	#7
steggie Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: arlington tx Posts: 30	Same here, I also learned the hard way!

02/26/2010, 04:20 PM	#8
cloak Moved On Join Date: Jul 2000 Location: Stockton, CA Posts: 14,854	If you happen to leave your mag float attached to the glass for any length of time, make sure to check in between for spirorbid worms. The calcareous shell they have will scratch the hell out of the glass too. http://www.melevsreef.com/id/spirorbid_worms.html

02/26/2010, 04:38 PM	#9
Saltyllama Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 283	I have threatened bodily harm to many who have touched or attemted to touch my mag cleaner. I keep it in the tank but always give the pad a check before cleaning the tank.

02/26/2010, 11:43 PM	#12
DaveAngie79 Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Greenwood, IN Posts: 662	also learned these things the hard way

02/26/2010, 11:49 PM	#13
kotu100 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: easton, ma Posts: 75	sad to say i learned this the hard way as well, the part that really hurts, was it happened 2 days after i got my brand new tank!

02/27/2010, 12:26 PM	#14
dots Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 6,258	Correct, I used a razor blade on mine primarily and used a mag on top for brushing off daily accumulation only. __________________ ~Doug

02/27/2010, 07:45 PM	#15
jquailus1 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Posts: 39	just one more benefit of going bb