Will a mag float glass cleaner really scratch starphire?

pennyguy23 · 06/03/2006, 11:10 PM

Just as the heading states.

bertoni · 06/04/2006, 12:29 AM

If the cleaner gets sand in it, yes, the tank could be scratched.

Freed · 06/04/2006, 01:01 AM

Any algae magnet will scratch glass if it gets a bit of sand or any abrasive material between the scrubber and the glass. Mag floats aren't prone or well known for it though, just like any other magnet cleaner.

pennyguy23 · 06/04/2006, 02:20 PM

Ok so I should be fine with it I don't need to buy one of those expensive ones. with the replaceable pads

Freed · 06/04/2006, 03:29 PM

Depending on the size of tank you want to use it on the Mag Floats only go up to 350 gal. tank or so I believe. Other more expensive ones work on tanks much larger and have much greater magnetic attraction.

szwab · 06/04/2006, 06:17 PM

see if the magnet you are looking at is rated for the thickness of your tanks glass.
The expensive magnets ( magnavore, algae free) IMO are worth it.
The reason they are more expnsive is the replacable pads but they also have very strong magnets and won't come apart while cleaning the tank. Mine gives me a good work out and I don't have to go over the same spot more than 2x to get everything off. Coraline as well as long as I clean every couple of days

pennyguy23 · 06/04/2006, 08:43 PM

My tank is a 360gl so I guess I might have to invest in one.(which kind would you suggest?) But what is the scratching about. I thought the whole reason people get glass is because it doesn't scratch like acrylic. I thought you really had to dig into it to scatch it.

szwab · 06/05/2006, 03:06 PM

you do have try hard to scratch the glass Starphire is" not as strong as regular glass" plus with some of these algae magnets being so strong it is possible to scratch glass (unlikely though IMO) I have only used a tiger shark float made by Algea Free. I like it a lot the magnavores seem to be very similair but I can't say which size you should get. I'd go by the reccomendations based on glass thickness.

CrystalAZ · 06/05/2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

The expensive magnets ( magnavore, algae free) IMO are worth it.

I don't like them and sold mine and just use the MagFloat. For me, the stronger magnets were too difficult to slide across the glass. I prefer the ease of use of the Mag.

And yes any magnet can scratch. Just be careful around the sandbed to not disturb the sand. I just use a Kent scraper with a long handle to clean the glass an inch or two above my sandbed every couple weeks.

Crystal

Gooli · 08/11/2006, 05:52 PM

I would like to bring this topic back to discussion...i am looking at upgrading to a 180g tank and the ONLY reason i'm NOT going with acrylic is because of scratches.

so...

All you starphire owners, how do you keep your glass clean and what do you use with success (no scratches). If you dont have experience, please dont speculate...that just adds confusion..I dont mean to sound like an azz...but i want to hear from experience.

thanks

doox00 · 08/11/2006, 06:44 PM

I have a 90g aga tank and use a mag float, I have a few scratches now in my glass, and it irks me.. the tank is only 7-8 months old. Whenever I use the magfloat I make sure there is no sand inbetween the mag float and glass, but obviously I missed a grain a time or two. Just be careful when using the magnet cleaners.

Gooli · 08/11/2006, 08:44 PM

dooxo....is it starphire?

06/03/2006, 11:10 PM	#1
pennyguy23 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MI Posts: 694	Will a mag float glass cleaner really scratch starphire? Just as the heading states. __________________ Steven - See my tank in my gallery Current Tank Info: 360gl inwall, reef , 40"Geo Skimmer, 4 Tunze 6100's w/ controllers 400watt Sfiligoi Lighting with 4 ACLS Units

06/04/2006, 12:29 AM	#2
bertoni RC Mod Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Mountain View, CA, USA Posts: 88,616	If the cleaner gets sand in it, yes, the tank could be scratched. __________________ Jonathan Bertoni

06/04/2006, 01:01 AM	#3
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Any algae magnet will scratch glass if it gets a bit of sand or any abrasive material between the scrubber and the glass. Mag floats aren't prone or well known for it though, just like any other magnet cleaner. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

06/04/2006, 02:20 PM	#4
pennyguy23 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MI Posts: 694	Ok so I should be fine with it I don't need to buy one of those expensive ones. with the replaceable pads __________________ Steven - See my tank in my gallery Current Tank Info: 360gl inwall, reef , 40"Geo Skimmer, 4 Tunze 6100's w/ controllers 400watt Sfiligoi Lighting with 4 ACLS Units

06/04/2006, 03:29 PM	#5
Freed It's what it's Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: 41° 2' 45" N 85° 8' 43" W Posts: 7,579	Depending on the size of tank you want to use it on the Mag Floats only go up to 350 gal. tank or so I believe. Other more expensive ones work on tanks much larger and have much greater magnetic attraction. __________________ Freed Current Tank Info: 180gal(1120 watts of MH/VHO light), 60gal "sump", Deltec 601 calcium reactor, Euro Reef CS8-3+ skimmer, 20 gallon QT

06/04/2006, 06:17 PM	#6
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	see if the magnet you are looking at is rated for the thickness of your tanks glass. The expensive magnets ( magnavore, algae free) IMO are worth it. The reason they are more expnsive is the replacable pads but they also have very strong magnets and won't come apart while cleaning the tank. Mine gives me a good work out and I don't have to go over the same spot more than 2x to get everything off. Coraline as well as long as I clean every couple of days __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

06/04/2006, 08:43 PM	#7
pennyguy23 Premium Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: MI Posts: 694	My tank is a 360gl so I guess I might have to invest in one.(which kind would you suggest?) But what is the scratching about. I thought the whole reason people get glass is because it doesn't scratch like acrylic. I thought you really had to dig into it to scatch it. __________________ Steven - See my tank in my gallery Current Tank Info: 360gl inwall, reef , 40"Geo Skimmer, 4 Tunze 6100's w/ controllers 400watt Sfiligoi Lighting with 4 ACLS Units Last edited by pennyguy23; 06/04/2006 at 08:54 PM.

06/05/2006, 03:06 PM	#8
szwab RC Mod Join Date: May 2002 Location: Columbus, Ohio Posts: 15,225	you do have try hard to scratch the glass Starphire is" not as strong as regular glass" plus with some of these algae magnets being so strong it is possible to scratch glass (unlikely though IMO) I have only used a tiger shark float made by Algea Free. I like it a lot the magnavores seem to be very similair but I can't say which size you should get. I'd go by the reccomendations based on glass thickness. __________________ Mark "I got a fever, and the only prescription, is more cowbell" ~ Christopher Walken Current Tank Info: AGE 240 Flatback Hex

08/11/2006, 05:52 PM	#10
Gooli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 3,746	I would like to bring this topic back to discussion...i am looking at upgrading to a 180g tank and the ONLY reason i'm NOT going with acrylic is because of scratches. so... All you starphire owners, how do you keep your glass clean and what do you use with success (no scratches). If you dont have experience, please dont speculate...that just adds confusion..I dont mean to sound like an azz...but i want to hear from experience. thanks __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. " - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 180g SPS

08/11/2006, 06:44 PM	#11
doox00 Premium Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: West Michigan Posts: 928	I have a 90g aga tank and use a mag float, I have a few scratches now in my glass, and it irks me.. the tank is only 7-8 months old. Whenever I use the magfloat I make sure there is no sand inbetween the mag float and glass, but obviously I missed a grain a time or two. Just be careful when using the magnet cleaners.

08/11/2006, 08:44 PM	#12
Gooli Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: West Los Angeles Posts: 3,746	dooxo....is it starphire? __________________ "Beer is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy. " - Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 180g SPS