Scratching Glass with a MagFloat

barjam · 09/05/2007, 07:55 AM

I read that if you get some aragonite(or a snail) between the mag float and the glass it would scratch it. As an experiment last night I took my mag float out, loaded it up with aragonite and tried everything I could to scratch the glass on my sump to no avail. I even tried turning it around so it was direct contact with nothing but spiroid shells and nothing, no scratches.

With a hardness of 3-4 it doesn't seem possible for argonite to scratch glass with a hardness of 5.5 does it? Perhaps an impurity is to blame (silica sand or something)?

hyperfocal · 09/05/2007, 08:02 AM

Try that on an acrylic tank and you'll see what people are complaining about

rbrusletto · 09/05/2007, 08:08 AM

my 75 acrylic is a good example of what happens when you give people who dont care a mag float and aragonite. 14 years worth of dont care

the first two to three inches up from the bottom are scratched on all three visible sides.

navajo · 09/05/2007, 08:21 AM

Actually, I would have to say it has more to do with the strength of the magnet.

I have scratched my GLASS tank multiple times with the magnet cleaner and sand. But then again, I am using a Great White float cleaner on a 210 Oceanic. But it DOES happen.

barjam · 09/05/2007, 08:25 AM

I was worried at first because my tank has scratches anyhow (from previous cichlid tank setup with lava rock) so it would be hard to tell if there were new scratches . My closest viewing distance is about two feet so it isn't that big of a deal in either case.

navajo · 09/05/2007, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by barjam
I was worried at first because my tank has scratches anyhow (from previous cichlid tank setup with lava rock) so it would be hard to tell if there were new scratches . My closest viewing distance is about two feet so it isn't that big of a deal in either case.

Yeah, I've learned to "Embrace the scratches"

My son wanted to help me by cleaning the tank while I was at work right after I got it set up... Let's just say it's a lot easier and calmer to just ignore the scratches and focus on the fish and corals.

hyperfocal · 09/05/2007, 10:17 AM

I was doing okay ignoring the scratches on my acrylic 60... I got a good deal on it used, and figured they were just part of the 'cost' of the tank. Then, a baby snail got under my magfloat:

Now, when I look at the tank that mongo scratch is all I can see :-(

raskal311 · 09/05/2007, 10:24 AM

1/2" Polish glass + large magefloat + sand = no scratches

1/2" starfire glass + large magefloat + sand = scratches

K' Family Reef · 09/05/2007, 10:34 AM

i use a 'doobie' pad
to clean the sides of the glass in the main display... if i get too close to the gravel and stir some up w/o realizing it then get a piece under the pad

= scratches on the glass everytime!

on a custom 125 w/ 1/2" glass

dc · 09/05/2007, 10:56 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by navajo
Yeah, I've learned to "Embrace the scratches"

My son wanted to help me by cleaning the tank while I was at work right after I got it set up... Let's just say it's a lot easier and calmer to just ignore the scratches and focus on the fish and corals.

Me too. After awhile you see right through them. My worst was when I dropped a piece of lava rock when it was a FW. It's mostly only noticable when it gets too much algae on the glass.

rkelman · 09/05/2007, 11:02 AM

My tank scratched from aragonite in the mag float.. It doesn't happen alot but it does happen. Possibly a harder substance in with the aragonite or a tiny particle of the live rock.. Who knows. I have a couple though. (glass tank)

dc · 09/05/2007, 11:03 AM

Might make a difference on how thick your glass is and how strong the magnet is also.

navajo · 09/05/2007, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by dc
Me too. After awhile you see right through them. My worst was when I dropped a piece of lava rock when it was a FW. It's mostly only noticable when it gets too much algae on the glass.

THAT'S IT! Right after a good cleaning, you hardly notice them but in a couple days when the "film" starts back up, there they are! Oh well, I guess i COULD clean more often... nah! They don't bother me that much!

I really do think it has to do with the magnet strength. When I was using my previous "PetSmart" magnet, there were no scratches at all. Or maybe they were just too algae covered to notice

akaatomic · 09/06/2007, 10:38 AM

I have a 75g with a medium sized Mag-Float. I have a bunch of short scratches a few inches up from my sand bed. The strange part is, all of the scratches are vertical. None are horizontal even though I move the Mag-Float horizontally. Very wacky. It's at the point where this tank is going to become a sump or water storage. Too scratched for anything better.

K' Family Reef · 09/06/2007, 11:57 AM

i try not to get anywhere near the bottom when cleaning the sides of the glass... then take a credit card to finish it off down near the bottom/sand bed...

09/05/2007, 07:55 AM	#1
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	Scratching Glass with a MagFloat I read that if you get some aragonite(or a snail) between the mag float and the glass it would scratch it. As an experiment last night I took my mag float out, loaded it up with aragonite and tried everything I could to scratch the glass on my sump to no avail. I even tried turning it around so it was direct contact with nothing but spiroid shells and nothing, no scratches. With a hardness of 3-4 it doesn't seem possible for argonite to scratch glass with a hardness of 5.5 does it? Perhaps an impurity is to blame (silica sand or something)? Last edited by barjam; 09/05/2007 at 08:22 AM.

09/05/2007, 08:02 AM	#2
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	Try that on an acrylic tank and you'll see what people are complaining about __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

09/05/2007, 08:21 AM	#4
navajo Premium Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Northern VA Posts: 644	Actually, I would have to say it has more to do with the strength of the magnet. I have scratched my GLASS tank multiple times with the magnet cleaner and sand. But then again, I am using a Great White float cleaner on a 210 Oceanic. But it DOES happen. __________________ Tom (The Tool Man) "Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to KEEP fish and his family will soon be eating Ramen Noodles..." Current Tank Info: 210 GAL SW/ 55 GAL Heavily planted FW/ 3000 GAL KOI Pond/ Last edited by navajo; 09/05/2007 at 08:27 AM.

09/05/2007, 10:17 AM	#7
hyperfocal Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Edge of oblivion Posts: 1,708	I was doing okay ignoring the scratches on my acrylic 60... I got a good deal on it used, and figured they were just part of the 'cost' of the tank. Then, a baby snail got under my magfloat: Now, when I look at the tank that mongo scratch is all I can see :-( __________________ "Froth at the top, dregs at bottom, but the middle excellent." -- Voltaire Current Tank Info: getting back into the hobby

09/05/2007, 11:03 AM	#12
dc Moderator Emeritus Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: Wyoming Posts: 44,684	Might make a difference on how thick your glass is and how strong the magnet is also. __________________ Debi ~60 Cube~ Why? Because I said so of course. -Sent via Tapatalk Smoke Signals-

09/05/2007, 08:08 AM	#3
rbrusletto Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Denver, CO Posts: 239	my 75 acrylic is a good example of what happens when you give people who dont care a mag float and aragonite. 14 years worth of dont care the first two to three inches up from the bottom are scratched on all three visible sides.

09/05/2007, 08:25 AM	#5
barjam Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Posts: 1,695	I was worried at first because my tank has scratches anyhow (from previous cichlid tank setup with lava rock) so it would be hard to tell if there were new scratches . My closest viewing distance is about two feet so it isn't that big of a deal in either case.

09/05/2007, 10:24 AM	#8
raskal311 Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Orange County Posts: 5,274	1/2" Polish glass + large magefloat + sand = no scratches 1/2" starfire glass + large magefloat + sand = scratches

09/05/2007, 10:34 AM	#9
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	i use a 'doobie' pad to clean the sides of the glass in the main display... if i get too close to the gravel and stir some up w/o realizing it then get a piece under the pad = scratches on the glass everytime! on a custom 125 w/ 1/2" glass

09/05/2007, 11:02 AM	#11
rkelman Registered Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Belleville, Ontario Canada Posts: 3,438	My tank scratched from aragonite in the mag float.. It doesn't happen alot but it does happen. Possibly a harder substance in with the aragonite or a tiny particle of the live rock.. Who knows. I have a couple though. (glass tank)

09/06/2007, 10:38 AM	#14
akaatomic Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: NJ Posts: 155	I have a 75g with a medium sized Mag-Float. I have a bunch of short scratches a few inches up from my sand bed. The strange part is, all of the scratches are vertical. None are horizontal even though I move the Mag-Float horizontally. Very wacky. It's at the point where this tank is going to become a sump or water storage. Too scratched for anything better.

09/06/2007, 11:57 AM	#15
K' Family Reef Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 1,966	i try not to get anywhere near the bottom when cleaning the sides of the glass... then take a credit card to finish it off down near the bottom/sand bed...