Magnetic Glass Cleaner

[franmorr1966]

Who uses the "Mag-Float" algae cleaning magnetic device in their aquariums? Are they effective?

[clint]

I do and they are very effective. They have a Velcro like texture on the inside, very good at scraping the detritus from the sides/front of glass. You can't go wrong with with this product.

[andyroo]

I bought one, and it "shudders" when you drag it across the glass. The internal racket must be horrific as the fish freak out.
I've gone back to an old credit-card and a wet arm.

Any thoughts on stopping the shudder? Glass is only 3/8th" so I'm within the range of the magnet.

[franmorr1966]

Two conflicting replies. LOL

[andyroo]

It works for algae though- don't get me wrong.
Get one & keep the receipt. If it shudders, send it back. Go at or bigger then the recommended size for your tank.
A

[franmorr1966]

I appreciate your input, thank you.

[Diana]

Here is another negative:
Worthless. I can do better with a razor blade and a wet arm, and the fish follow my arm eating the algae that flakes off.

[franmorr1966]

Well thank you everybody. Not sure what I'm going to do now. Cleaning the tank with the abrasive sponge has been working out ok and algae primarily forms only in a few places here and there. I think I'll have a S.A. in an lfs use it for me and see what I think of it since they seem to be in lots of store tanks these days.

[chefkeith]

I got a few mag-floats. I like them both and they serve their purpose.

The small one I have I use in my sump, which I can't fit my arm in because there is only about 4 inches of clearance between the top of the sump and the top of the tank stand. The small mag-float magnets are weak and won't do much more than clean dirt off the glass. They're not very good for cleaning algae.

The large mag-float works awesome, but it was expensive. It cost around $35 at my LFS. The magnet is quite strong and I need to use cation not to break anything with it. I need to use it to clean my big tanks because my arms aren't long enough to reach most spots. This one works very good algae.

There are a few things you can do to make the large mag-float work more effective. You can put a scour pad, buffing pad, or cloth over one side. The magnet is strong enough to hold it in place. My LFS puts Chore Boy mesh scrubbies over them. There is also a razor blade attachment that you can get for it too.

[palaeodave]

I use this:

http://www.cascadebitz.com/Aquarium-Mai ... p-668.html

It's fantastic. Much more effective at getting tough algae (what I call 'spot' algae, no idea what it's really called) than the magnetic cleaners and much less effort than getting your arm in the tank with a scour pad. I thoroughly recommend it.

[starsplitter7]

I use an old fashioned Bristlenose or snails in the smaller tank. Works every time! (Of course the snails wouldn't work with the loaches.

[franmorr1966]

I do have one of the scrapers like you have, Dave, and yes it does work, but it seems where the sun hits the tank those spots of algae form on the back of the glass primarily and the sides too. Using the scraper can be awkward for the back.

I'd love a natural alternative to cleaning algae like a pleco or bristlenose, but no more big additions to this tank.

Thanks again everybody, I love the feedback.

[palaeodave]

I have plain black backing on all my tanks, so algae growth tends not to get out of control there although I really wouldn't care if it did. As far as I'm concerned, algae is a good thing in a balanced tank.

[franmorr1966]

Eh, I don't like seeing algae although my first RTS used to graze on it consistently--probably why he grew so fast and was solid and healthy.

I think besides the sun, the algae grew because my water changes were not as consistent as they'd used to be. I remember a long time ago reading threads about the colors of algae and what that meant to a tank and its cleanliness.

The green stringy stuff is kind of pretty and flowy but I've never gotten that kind; just the slimier greenish-brown kind on the glass and a little on the (silk) plants.

[starsplitter7]

I have some sort of long, furry dark green algae growing in my 29 that no one eats. I scrape it off the front of my tank with a finger nail. The rest I leave. I see the fish searching it for yummies, and the fry sometimes hide in it. If it gets too thick for the decore, I drop it in the pleco tank and then the decore is wiped clean.