Algae glass cleaners

ratienza80 · 05/10/2015, 06:32 PM

I purchased the Tunze long care magnet glass cleaner. Read around and saw that the magnet blocks can scratch the glass if sand gets stuck in between. What are your guys' experience with the Tunze cleaner?

JamesWang · 05/10/2015, 06:42 PM

Tunze Care Magnet is awesome- no sand can get in the way. I love it!

ratienza80 · 05/10/2015, 09:50 PM

Thanks for the insight James!

dmw913 · 05/10/2015, 09:54 PM

I have to respectfully disagree slightly with James. While the Tunze magnet is held back from the glass which is an amazing design element, it IS possible for gravel to get in between the magnet and the glass. In fact, Tunze instructions warns you to be particularly careful in the case of Carib-sea Hawaiian Black because that sand is partially magnetized (I can only guess because it's volcanic in nature???)

Just like anything else in this hobby, be careful and deliberate and you should be fine.

smedlin · 05/11/2015, 05:26 AM

Are there different types of glass used in aquarium builds?

I ask, because I've never had sand scratch my tank.

In fact, when I'm cleaning it by hand using one of those blue cleaning pad thingies, I learned a long time ago, that if I scoop some sand onto the pad, it helps to scrub off the Coralline... and it doesn't scratch my glass walls.

gone fishin · 05/11/2015, 07:39 AM

Using any sort of mag cleaner has the potential for sand to get on the pad. It is just one of those things. Keep an eye on it when using one. Just my 2 cents worth.

AZRippster · 05/11/2015, 07:50 AM

What I have found works well is the Mighty Magnets line but don't go all the way to the sand bed. For that area, take a piece of 3/4" PVC and cut a good 45 degree groove into the end. Then use plastic razor blades. They will not scratch and being that they are being held by a piece of PVC that is essentially open, it doesn't hold sand/crushed coral.

http://www.windowfilmsupplies.com/ti...200-edges.html

eb2292 · 05/11/2015, 08:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smedlin

Are there different types of glass used in aquarium builds?

I ask, because I've never had sand scratch my tank.

In fact, when I'm cleaning it by hand using one of those blue cleaning pad thingies, I learned a long time ago, that if I scoop some sand onto the pad, it helps to scrub off the Coralline... and it doesn't scratch my glass walls.

I've actually been wondering the same thing. My dad has a Deep Sea Aquatics tank, and I have a custom tank by Miracles aquariums... We both use the flipper magnet cleaner and it seems his glass scratches much easier than mine.

Sk8r · 05/11/2015, 11:08 AM

The Flipper Max is also good. But spionid shells grow on it, which could scratch: vinegar removes these.

It's just part of reefkeeping. Any time you have a magnet with glass or worse, acrylic, and sand gets under it, you have to be very careful not to pick up sand: don't let desire to have a scrupulously clean sand edge mark your tank permanently. If you detect a sand grain---stop. Pull the magnet back from the glass and let it float.

ratienza80 · 05/11/2015, 11:51 AM

Thanks for the replies! Definitely going to be a lil careful with cleaning the glass especially by the sandbed. The good thing about the Tunze is that the magnetic footprint is much smaller and the blade is interchangeable. The one thing that's not great is it doesn't float.

Heatherabel3 · 05/11/2015, 02:00 PM

I started with a Tunze magnet and ended up with a 2 inch scratch on my glass from sand getting in it. I do have the black Hawaiian sand though. Anyway, I just started using an old credit card to clean my glass and it works great and no worries about scratches.

05/10/2015, 06:32 PM	#1
ratienza80 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: So Cal Posts: 185	Algae glass cleaners I purchased the Tunze long care magnet glass cleaner. Read around and saw that the magnet blocks can scratch the glass if sand gets stuck in between. What are your guys' experience with the Tunze cleaner?

05/10/2015, 09:54 PM	#4
dmw913 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Utah Posts: 150	I have to respectfully disagree slightly with James. While the Tunze magnet is held back from the glass which is an amazing design element, it IS possible for gravel to get in between the magnet and the glass. In fact, Tunze instructions warns you to be particularly careful in the case of Carib-sea Hawaiian Black because that sand is partially magnetized (I can only guess because it's volcanic in nature???) Just like anything else in this hobby, be careful and deliberate and you should be fine. __________________ Denise Nuvo Fusion 20 - Home to Emmett, Jeff and Clark the Shark. :)

05/11/2015, 05:26 AM	#5
smedlin Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: South of Houston, Texas Posts: 339	Are there different types of glass used in aquarium builds? I ask, because I've never had sand scratch my tank. In fact, when I'm cleaning it by hand using one of those blue cleaning pad thingies, I learned a long time ago, that if I scoop some sand onto the pad, it helps to scrub off the Coralline... and it doesn't scratch my glass walls. __________________ 150G - 14 years old. In process of modernizing it. Read about my sad attempt here http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2490690

05/11/2015, 07:39 AM	#6
gone fishin Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Wyocena Wi Posts: 6,936	Using any sort of mag cleaner has the potential for sand to get on the pad. It is just one of those things. Keep an eye on it when using one. Just my 2 cents worth. __________________ Tony Current Tank Info: 180gal DT, BM NAC77 skimmer,3 Maxspect razors, Maxspect Gyre 150, 30g QT

05/11/2015, 11:08 AM	#9
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	The Flipper Max is also good. But spionid shells grow on it, which could scratch: vinegar removes these. It's just part of reefkeeping. Any time you have a magnet with glass or worse, acrylic, and sand gets under it, you have to be very careful not to pick up sand: don't let desire to have a scrupulously clean sand edge mark your tank permanently. If you detect a sand grain---stop. Pull the magnet back from the glass and let it float. __________________ Sk8r Salinity 1.024-6; alkalinity 8.3-9.3 on KH scale; calcium 420; magnesium 1300, temp 78-80, nitrate .2. Ammonia 0. No filters: lps tank. Alk and cal won't rise if mg is low. Current Tank Info: 105g AquaVim wedge, yellow tang, sailfin blenny,royal gramma, ocellaris clown pair, yellow watchman, 100 microceriths, 25 tiny hermits, a 4" conch, 1" nassarius, recovering from 2 year hiatus with daily water change of 10%.

05/10/2015, 06:42 PM	#2
JamesWang Moved On Join Date: May 2015 Location: North Florida Posts: 40	Tunze Care Magnet is awesome- no sand can get in the way. I love it!

05/10/2015, 09:50 PM	#3
ratienza80 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: So Cal Posts: 185	Thanks for the insight James!

05/11/2015, 07:50 AM	#7
AZRippster Diver & Reef Aquarium Nut Join Date: May 2012 Location: Sierra Vista, AZ Posts: 1,127	What I have found works well is the Mighty Magnets line but don't go all the way to the sand bed. For that area, take a piece of 3/4" PVC and cut a good 45 degree groove into the end. Then use plastic razor blades. They will not scratch and being that they are being held by a piece of PVC that is essentially open, it doesn't hold sand/crushed coral. http://www.windowfilmsupplies.com/ti...200-edges.html

05/11/2015, 11:51 AM	#10
ratienza80 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: So Cal Posts: 185	Thanks for the replies! Definitely going to be a lil careful with cleaning the glass especially by the sandbed. The good thing about the Tunze is that the magnetic footprint is much smaller and the blade is interchangeable. The one thing that's not great is it doesn't float.

05/11/2015, 02:00 PM	#11
Heatherabel3 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2015 Posts: 182	I started with a Tunze magnet and ended up with a 2 inch scratch on my glass from sand getting in it. I do have the black Hawaiian sand though. Anyway, I just started using an old credit card to clean my glass and it works great and no worries about scratches.