so what do ya'll use to scrape algea off yr acrylic?

[Anonymous]

i just spent about 9HRS this weekend refinishing the inside of my tank. it looks almost new now. still gonna have to go over it with the final 8000grit paper to get off the hazy spots. the *what a bargain* scraper i used on it lately had cobwebbed the @#!* out of it

it was supposed to be acrylic safe.

the other scraper i was using before was like a plastic putty knife with a rounded edge. but with the corraline i get growing on the acrylic, it only comes off with seemingly endless passes and needs to be scraped bout twice a week. so...

i say all of that to ask this... does anybody have experience using the high dollar "rare earth magnets" like the "shrimp" and the "tiger"? if so, please tell me. i'd be glad to pay the extra $$, since then also wouldn't have to put my hands in the tank near as often and have to worry about contaminating the water with Jergins and petroleum products

just kidding
but really. do these expensive magnet cleaners really work with acrylic and tough algea or is the solution just to be really careful with a plastic card? i've read as many old posts as i could on the subject but didn't get a definite answer.
please help,
thanks,
po

 

[ejloomis]

I use a Magnavore VI on my acrylic tank and it works well -- it won't remove coralline, but used regularly it will keep it and other algae at bay. I clean with it about two times a week to prevent build-up (it takes about 10 min. on an 8 foot tank).

About once a month I scrape off any coralline that has started to build-up with a Kent acrylic scraper. The Kent scraper can put very small scratches in my acrylic, but I can remove these in-tank with 6000 or 8000 grit wet sandpaper.

 

[XXX]

I use a regular acrylic safe algae pad. I use a Kent scraper with the long handle for some difficult to get to spots. But they do scratch. I clean my tank daily as I have new spots of coralline form in less than 24 hours. If you get them right away it's a heck of a lot less scrubbing, which makes me a little uneasy.

 

[McReef1]

I scrape algae very much like ej, except I use a Cornermag (much less expensive than the Magnavore). The Magnavore is much "stronger" - in terms of the magnets - but IMO, it is not needed. The Cornermag I got at my LFS for $30. That and a little filter felt works fine for diatoms et al.

For the corraline, I also use a Kent acrylic scraper. As always, you must be careful near your sand bed. If you use some of that sandpaper to slightly round the 2 corners of the scraper blade, you may find that you don't scratch the acrylic.
Good luck!

 

[Dewey]

Where did you get the Magnavore? Are they acrylic safe or do you put a pad on the inside? Does it float?
Thanks

 

[XXX]

I have a Magnavore IV that I have only used a few times. I will sell it for half of what I paid for it. Email me of you are interested.

It's difficult to even post today.

I decided to come to the boards for a while to try to get my mind off of things. It's not working. I'll try again tomorrow.

 

[Big_fish]

I use old credit cards to scrape coralline off of acrylic. They are rigid enough to get it off, but soft enough to avoid scratching the acrylic IME.
Even better than real credit cards are those fake ones you get it in the "You're Preapproved for a $100,000 credit limit Platinum Deluxe Super Visa Credit Card."
HTH,
Scott