Coraline etc. cleanup - hiring?
- Thread starter Armando
- Start date
Greg Hiller
BRS Moderator
Armando,
I have found it much more 'fun' to clean the glass when using a magnetic cleaner as my arm is dry and I can look in the tank at the same time. Most of the magnetic cleaners will not effectivly clean coraline algae, and have a tendency to scratch the glass, but I have a work around.
I purchased one of the really large Tunze mag. cleaners, and use that on the outside, while using a small magnetic scraper on the inside that had razor blades in it. The small magnetic scraper is too weak to use on thick glass, but when using the Tunze on the outside it makes up for that weakness. The scraper is pretty small, and it therefore takes some time, but I don't mind if I can look into the tank. The Tunze magnets are quite expensive, but the small inside scraper is only about $7 or so. The blades are pretty decent, and do not rust as fast as razor blades, particularly if you rinse the salt off each time. You can purchase replacement blades direct from the manufacturer (Penn Plax I believe) for very low $. If you are over some time I can show you how this works.
I have found it much more 'fun' to clean the glass when using a magnetic cleaner as my arm is dry and I can look in the tank at the same time. Most of the magnetic cleaners will not effectivly clean coraline algae, and have a tendency to scratch the glass, but I have a work around.
I purchased one of the really large Tunze mag. cleaners, and use that on the outside, while using a small magnetic scraper on the inside that had razor blades in it. The small magnetic scraper is too weak to use on thick glass, but when using the Tunze on the outside it makes up for that weakness. The scraper is pretty small, and it therefore takes some time, but I don't mind if I can look into the tank. The Tunze magnets are quite expensive, but the small inside scraper is only about $7 or so. The blades are pretty decent, and do not rust as fast as razor blades, particularly if you rinse the salt off each time. You can purchase replacement blades direct from the manufacturer (Penn Plax I believe) for very low $. If you are over some time I can show you how this works.
ReeferMedic
Non-member
I'd like to see this in action. It'll give me an excuse to grab another frag or two from you...... 
Kevin McG
Ni Hao!
MarkO said:Greg, that is EXACTLY what I've been looking for.
My 150 is too deep for my arms to reach inb the front (not to mention the display side is in another room). Any chance you could post a photo of the scraper?
Same here, my tanks bottom front is just a bit to far for my little short arms
Maybe you could get one of these They have them for Mag and Tunze magnets.
More info at http://www.oceansmotions.com
Ive never used them, but there are may threads on rc about them.
More info at http://www.oceansmotions.com
Ive never used them, but there are may threads on rc about them.
~Flighty~
Now with more baby
I broke the head off of a toilet brush and cut a slot in the handle for a razor blade. The handle is ergonomic The only thing that bugs me is razoring close to the silicone. I want to cover the corners on the outside and inside so I don't have to wory about it. I'll use wood trim fot the outside, but havn't figured out what I'll do on the inside.
The only thing that bugs me is razoring close to the silicone. I want to cover the corners on the outside and inside so I don't have to wory about it. I'll use wood trim fot the outside, but havn't figured out what I'll do on the inside.http://www.thatpetplace.com/Product...ment/T1/F11+0291+0272/EDP/11304/Itemdy00.aspx
I use the same one...but once a month or 2, I still go in with the razor and clean out the corners and front sand of the red crap that gets trapped between the sand and front glass
I use the same one...but once a month or 2, I still go in with the razor and clean out the corners and front sand of the red crap that gets trapped between the sand and front glass
sw300galma
Sgt. Tang Police
nitrofish said:
Yes but not fast enough...
And they also don't do a very though job...Mine is on disclipnary job probation after missing an entire section on the front and starting on the back. Slacker never finishes...
sw300galma
Sgt. Tang Police
Those scrapers are great, but what about us Acrylic people...I can't reach the bottom of my 300, my mag float wont do the green coraline...and When i go to close to the bottom I just pick up sand and scratch it anyway...
My next tank will be glass lol..
My next tank will be glass lol..
Greg Hiller
BRS Moderator
>Maybe you could get one of these They have them for Mag and Tunze magnets.
More info at http://www.oceansmotions.com<
Wow, that looks VERY cool. I'll have to look into that.
More info at http://www.oceansmotions.com<
Wow, that looks VERY cool. I'll have to look into that.
Greg Hiller
BRS Moderator
>http://www.oceansmotions.com<
Nice, but $30 is a little steep. I'm very paranoid at the moment about getting any scratchs in my new tank.
BTW, they mention at the site that you can put some type of scraper in for acrylic tanks.
Nice, but $30 is a little steep. I'm very paranoid at the moment about getting any scratchs in my new tank.
BTW, they mention at the site that you can put some type of scraper in for acrylic tanks.
MarkO
...
I cut a notch in an old mag-float scraper and glued in a razorblade. Works surprisingly well (especially when I use my Magnavore magnet on the outside of the tank). Prettymuch takes 95% of the coraline off in the first pass, and the remaining 5% in the second.
Pretty easy to make. Takes about 10-15 minutes.
Pretty easy to make. Takes about 10-15 minutes.
Attachments
Chuck Spyropulos
Non-member
I feel your pain
I use a Kent scraper with the metal blade. It puts surface scrapes in the acrylic that are nearly invisible. You have to be careful but it works much better and faster than the plastic scraper. I also use a few different length handles, one 3 foot one 1.5 foot, one 1 foot and the real short handle sometimes.
If you scratch the acrylic you can buff it out without draining any water. I use cleaning magnets with mesh grid polishers inside the tank between the inside magnet and the acrylic.
I use a Kent scraper with the metal blade. It puts surface scrapes in the acrylic that are nearly invisible. You have to be careful but it works much better and faster than the plastic scraper. I also use a few different length handles, one 3 foot one 1.5 foot, one 1 foot and the real short handle sometimes.
If you scratch the acrylic you can buff it out without draining any water. I use cleaning magnets with mesh grid polishers inside the tank between the inside magnet and the acrylic.
sw300galma said:
