Anyone Else Have to Magfloat Daily?

Scott07 · 11/01/2018, 10:00 AM

I mag float my DT glass almost every day and have for well over a year now. I get a reasonable amount of dust algae build up on the glass even an hour or two after cleaning it. Nitrates are undetectable, even with the red sea low range kit, and phosphates are very low also, although to be honest I have not tested in quite a while. I have minimal, nearly no nusicence algae in the display.

I'm not so much trying to solve any problem. The tank is doing really well right now, lots of growth, etc... Just wondering if I'm the only one that has this much trouble keeping my glass clean?

WVfishguy · 11/01/2018, 10:16 AM

When I was taking care of customer's tanks, I found out Magfloats wear out (but I had 100 tanks on my route!).
Your Magfloat pads may be worn out, and might only be scraping the surface and not getting all the way to the glass. I have to fight algae every day and use a razor blade about every 7-8 days as well.
You can purchase new pads for Magfloats without buying a whole new scraper. Peel the old ones off, and replace. The replacements come already glued.
I can't remember where I used to buy my replacement pads - sorry.

Darth_Tater · 11/01/2018, 10:32 AM

My glass gets cloudy within two days or so. I'm not so sure it's algae, it may be bacteria (at least in my tank). It looks red-ish. My tank is also doing quite well right now, so I'm not worried about it.

mcgyvr · 11/01/2018, 10:34 AM

It all depends on how picky you are about it..

Joe0813 · 11/01/2018, 10:38 AM

I clean mine about every three days or so

Scott07 · 11/01/2018, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WVfishguy

When I was taking care of customer's tanks, I found out Magfloats wear out (but I had 100 tanks on my route!).
Your Magfloat pads may be worn out, and might only be scraping the surface and not getting all the way to the glass. I have to fight algae every day and use a razor blade about every 7-8 days as well.
You can purchase new pads for Magfloats without buying a whole new scraper. Peel the old ones off, and replace. The replacements come already glued.
I can't remember where I used to buy my replacement pads - sorry.

I hadn't even thought about that, but I bet a new inside pad might help some. It's the same one I've been using for forever.

lolgranny · 11/01/2018, 11:24 AM

Every 3 days for me.

As for the old float theory. I’ve been using the same one for 8 years with no issue.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Cliving1 · 11/01/2018, 11:28 AM

My tank gets some sun during the day, so daily patches for me.

top shelf · 11/01/2018, 11:50 AM

I clean mine whenever I get tired of looking at dirty glass. Could be anywhere from 2-3 days or a week or more. I'd say after maybe 3-4 is when it needs it though.

Pslreefer · 11/01/2018, 12:49 PM

Undetectable nitrates is the culprit. Raise your nitrates up some even to 1-2 ppm and the daily dusting will be gone and your corals will have better color

Scott07 · 11/01/2018, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pslreefer

Undetectable nitrates is the culprit. Raise your nitrates up some even to 1-2 ppm and the daily dusting will be gone and your corals will have better color

I've often suspected this or something like this. I have been trying to get detectable nitrates by feeding frozen almost every day for a couple months now. Would you consider dosing nitrate? Or just keep at it with feeding and maybe add a couple more fish?

Pslreefer · 11/01/2018, 02:33 PM

Yup my stump remover is arriving today as I’m having the same issue and my sps very pale.

11/01/2018, 10:00 AM	#1
Scott07 Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 384	Anyone Else Have to Magfloat Daily? I mag float my DT glass almost every day and have for well over a year now. I get a reasonable amount of dust algae build up on the glass even an hour or two after cleaning it. Nitrates are undetectable, even with the red sea low range kit, and phosphates are very low also, although to be honest I have not tested in quite a while. I have minimal, nearly no nusicence algae in the display. I'm not so much trying to solve any problem. The tank is doing really well right now, lots of growth, etc... Just wondering if I'm the only one that has this much trouble keeping my glass clean? __________________ 65 gallon mixed reef Good maintainence and husbandry is a cumulative effect, not a single event.

11/01/2018, 10:32 AM	#3
Darth_Tater Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Northern Utah Posts: 535	My glass gets cloudy within two days or so. I'm not so sure it's algae, it may be bacteria (at least in my tank). It looks red-ish. My tank is also doing quite well right now, so I'm not worried about it. __________________ It's probably in your best interest to ignore most of my advice.

11/01/2018, 10:34 AM	#4
mcgyvr Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: North Carolina Posts: 20,050	It all depends on how picky you are about it.. __________________ Who me?

11/01/2018, 10:38 AM	#5
Joe0813 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Boston strong Posts: 2,766	I clean mine about every three days or so __________________ Joe and Jenny Current Tank Info: 180 reef

11/01/2018, 11:24 AM	#7
lolgranny The DQ King Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Chicago (McHenry) Posts: 2,414	Every 3 days for me. As for the old float theory. I’ve been using the same one for 8 years with no issue. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk __________________ -Dave Current Tank Info: 40g RIP. 300g system, 180g display.

11/01/2018, 10:16 AM	#2
WVfishguy Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Huntington, WV Posts: 677	When I was taking care of customer's tanks, I found out Magfloats wear out (but I had 100 tanks on my route!). Your Magfloat pads may be worn out, and might only be scraping the surface and not getting all the way to the glass. I have to fight algae every day and use a razor blade about every 7-8 days as well. You can purchase new pads for Magfloats without buying a whole new scraper. Peel the old ones off, and replace. The replacements come already glued. I can't remember where I used to buy my replacement pads - sorry.

11/01/2018, 11:28 AM	#8
Cliving1 Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 1,923	My tank gets some sun during the day, so daily patches for me.

11/01/2018, 11:50 AM	#9
top shelf Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2014 Location: Pennsylvania Posts: 1,022	I clean mine whenever I get tired of looking at dirty glass. Could be anywhere from 2-3 days or a week or more. I'd say after maybe 3-4 is when it needs it though. __________________ Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit. Wisdom is not putting it into a fruit salad. Philosophy is wondering if that means ketchup is a smoothie. Current tank info: 45g SCA Cube

11/01/2018, 12:49 PM	#10
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	Undetectable nitrates is the culprit. Raise your nitrates up some even to 1-2 ppm and the daily dusting will be gone and your corals will have better color

11/01/2018, 02:33 PM	#12
Pslreefer In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: Port St Lucie, FL Posts: 597	Yup my stump remover is arriving today as I’m having the same issue and my sps very pale.