"flipper" scraper scratched my tank

ReefsandGeeks · 07/05/2016, 09:59 AM

I've been using the flipper scraper for several months with no issue and love the thing, but last night I was cleaning with the scrapper side and out of nowhere I heard a horrid sound and I looked, and I had made a 2-3" scratch right in the middle of my new tank

. I've never had an issue with this, and didn't see any apparent damage to the scrapper. I stayed away from the sandbed so I don't think it was sand in the scrapper. Has anyone else had this issue? should I throw out the flipper and go with a different scrapper/glass cleaner, or was this a fluke accident? I'm not trying to ding the flipper as it's saed me a lot of manual work over the last few months, but I'm afraid to use it now. Luckly the scratch isn't super deep, so I'll just have to live with it, but my tank was scratch free for less than a week.

lespaul339 · 07/05/2016, 10:52 AM

If you have an acrylic tank you may be able to buff it out.

ReefsandGeeks · 07/05/2016, 11:08 AM

Unfortionatly, it's a glass tank. The scratch can be felt with a fingernail, so it can't be buffed out. I looked into fixing a scratch on glass, but all articles say my scratch is a bit too severe to fix.

mandarin_goby · 07/05/2016, 11:24 AM

A tank I bought from craigslist was scratched by the previous owner with a flipper scraper. After seeing the scratches, I'd never use one :/

soulpatch · 07/05/2016, 11:28 AM

if you leave the scrapper in the tank sand can be blown into it, coraline algae, ect can all get on the blade and cause the damage. This is why you should never leave a scraper in the water.

Outside of that a good condition blade should never scratch glass.

hobbzz · 07/05/2016, 11:48 AM

Not sure how much you paid for the tank but a professional grade glass scratch removal system can take it out. They're professional prices though. Upwards of 1k. Innovative polishing systems in Florida has a good video on their site. Smallest kit is 1200.

As far as the scraper, soulpatch hit the nail on the head. Worms will usually grow in a scraper.

jd371 · 07/05/2016, 12:25 PM

I used to work for a glass company and if you can feel the scratch with your finger nail then it's probably too deep to buff out, and if you try to buff it, chances are you will deform the glass anyway.
I scratched my tank using the Mag Float, I caught it in time and only put a real small scratch on the glass, but it was enough to scrap the Mag Float and get the Tunze instead.

GimpyFin · 07/05/2016, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soulpatch

if you leave the scrapper in the tank sand can be blown into it, coraline algae, ect can all get on the blade and cause the damage. This is why you should never leave a scraper in the water.

Outside of that a good condition blade should never scratch glass.

I agree with this. The blade on the flipper by itself won't scratch glass unless it has help from something. You don't necessarily have to be cleaning down near the sand for it to happen, either. I've had mine for about 2 years and no issues. I keep mine in the tank right near the waterline, but I still give it a quick check for anything before I clean (Same goes for the pad side.)

brett559 · 07/05/2016, 12:29 PM

Get Tunze magnet. I've had it over a year. My tank is glass. No scratches. Works great.
https://www.amazon.com/Tunze-Care-Ma...=tunze+scraper

Bdial · 07/05/2016, 12:57 PM

I've never had an issue with the flipper but now I know it's going to scratch my tank. Sorry for your luck.

ReefsandGeeks · 07/05/2016, 12:57 PM

I'll look into getting a new scrapper. I'll also give a very thurough inspection of mine to see if I can find what might have done it. I do keep the scrapper in the tank, but that'll be the last time I do that. I think I'll give it a good vinegar bath after I look it over. I did take the scraper off after I thought it was scratching, and didn't look to see if there was any sand or anything in there, so if something was there and fell off I'd never know. Tis a shame, Not that I woun't enjoy the heck out of my new tank, but a scratch after a week is kinda depressing.

soulpatch · 07/05/2016, 01:01 PM

I have the tunze as well as the flipper and do prefer the tunze in general save for 2 spots in my tank where the smaller profile of the flipper lets me get in and clean. That said the tunze is not without worry with items getting on or growing on the blade. The benefit to it though is that there is no pad on the glass to worry about like the flipper with its 4 white contact pads on the blade side.

Such is life though and sorry you have a scratch.

dastrder · 07/05/2016, 01:22 PM

Sorry for the bad luck.

I use the Flipper and keep it in the water and haven't had any trouble in years. (Knock on wood).

Edit: Note: I use the plastic blade on my glass aquarium.

Sk8r · 07/05/2016, 02:20 PM

Tunze Care Magnet.

BeanMachine · 07/05/2016, 02:30 PM

Either there was sand in the blade or it was bent. I've been using the Flipper for a while now and have never had a problem on my glass tank. It works really well.

Sorry to say but I think this is a case of user error to be honest.

Do you leave it in your tank between cleanings?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bdial

I've never had an issue with the flipper but now I know it's going to scratch my tank. Sorry for your luck.

Quote:

Originally Posted by dastrder

Sorry for the bad luck.

I use the Flipper and keep it in the water and haven't had any trouble in years. (Knock on wood).

Edit: Note: I use the plastic blade on my glass aquarium.

oseymour · 07/05/2016, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brett559

Get Tunze magnet. I've had it over a year. My tank is glass. No scratches. Works great.
https://www.amazon.com/Tunze-Care-Ma...=tunze+scraper

This is what I use, I have ultra clear glass which I hear is easier to scratch, with the Tunze care magnet I can clean near the sandbed with no issues. the only issue is that it doesn't float when separated.

07/05/2016, 09:59 AM	#1
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	"flipper" scraper scratched my tank I've been using the flipper scraper for several months with no issue and love the thing, but last night I was cleaning with the scrapper side and out of nowhere I heard a horrid sound and I looked, and I had made a 2-3" scratch right in the middle of my new tank. I've never had an issue with this, and didn't see any apparent damage to the scrapper. I stayed away from the sandbed so I don't think it was sand in the scrapper. Has anyone else had this issue? should I throw out the flipper and go with a different scrapper/glass cleaner, or was this a fluke accident? I'm not trying to ding the flipper as it's saed me a lot of manual work over the last few months, but I'm afraid to use it now. Luckly the scratch isn't super deep, so I'll just have to live with it, but my tank was scratch free for less than a week.

07/05/2016, 10:52 AM	#2
lespaul339 Reefer Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Iowa Posts: 903	If you have an acrylic tank you may be able to buff it out. __________________ Reefer Madness! Current Tank Info: 60x24x24 150 gallon reef, 55 gallon sump.

07/05/2016, 11:24 AM	#4
mandarin_goby Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 844	A tank I bought from craigslist was scratched by the previous owner with a flipper scraper. After seeing the scratches, I'd never use one :/ __________________ 75 with Eshopps 100 sump, Reef Octopus 110 SSS skimmer, Sicce 3.0 pump, Maxspect Gyre 130, 2 x Kessil a360W, mangroves plus clip-on bulb in sump 75 FW planted with CO2, 12 gallon cherry shrimp tank

07/05/2016, 11:28 AM	#5
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	if you leave the scrapper in the tank sand can be blown into it, coraline algae, ect can all get on the blade and cause the damage. This is why you should never leave a scraper in the water. Outside of that a good condition blade should never scratch glass. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

07/05/2016, 11:48 AM	#6
hobbzz How do I change this? Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 3,037	Not sure how much you paid for the tank but a professional grade glass scratch removal system can take it out. They're professional prices though. Upwards of 1k. Innovative polishing systems in Florida has a good video on their site. Smallest kit is 1200. As far as the scraper, soulpatch hit the nail on the head. Worms will usually grow in a scraper. __________________ 150g system. 120g reef, sro3000, Apex, Tunze 6255/6105/6095, T5 w/led supplement, 29g reef, MP10, led only.

07/05/2016, 11:08 AM	#3
ReefsandGeeks Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Posts: 1,708	Unfortionatly, it's a glass tank. The scratch can be felt with a fingernail, so it can't be buffed out. I looked into fixing a scratch on glass, but all articles say my scratch is a bit too severe to fix.

07/05/2016, 12:25 PM	#7
jd371 Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Long Island Posts: 615	I used to work for a glass company and if you can feel the scratch with your finger nail then it's probably too deep to buff out, and if you try to buff it, chances are you will deform the glass anyway. I scratched my tank using the Mag Float, I caught it in time and only put a real small scratch on the glass, but it was enough to scrap the Mag Float and get the Tunze instead.

07/05/2016, 12:29 PM	#9
brett559 In Memoriam Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Visalia, CA Posts: 1,790	Get Tunze magnet. I've had it over a year. My tank is glass. No scratches. Works great. https://www.amazon.com/Tunze-Care-Ma...=tunze+scraper

07/05/2016, 12:57 PM	#10
Bdial Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Huntington, wv Posts: 675	I've never had an issue with the flipper but now I know it's going to scratch my tank. Sorry for your luck. __________________ Enthusiasm without knowledge is no good. Haste makes waste. WINTER IS COMING

07/05/2016, 01:01 PM	#12
soulpatch Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Downingtown, PA Posts: 4,017	I have the tunze as well as the flipper and do prefer the tunze in general save for 2 spots in my tank where the smaller profile of the flipper lets me get in and clean. That said the tunze is not without worry with items getting on or growing on the blade. The benefit to it though is that there is no pad on the glass to worry about like the flipper with its 4 white contact pads on the blade side. Such is life though and sorry you have a scratch. __________________ 150 SC tank build: http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2550948 Some have bar tabs. I have a coral tab at my LFS. Life goals.

07/05/2016, 01:22 PM	#13
dastrder Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: NJ Posts: 44	Sorry for the bad luck. I use the Flipper and keep it in the water and haven't had any trouble in years. (Knock on wood). Edit: Note: I use the plastic blade on my glass aquarium. __________________ David Current Tank Info: 90g Mixed Reef Last edited by dastrder; 07/05/2016 at 01:29 PM.

07/05/2016, 02:20 PM	#14
Sk8r RC Mod Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Spokane WA Posts: 34,628 Blog Entries: 55	Tunze Care Magnet. __________________ 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%.