Magnet Algae Cleaners - Aquarium Advice

MickieFish · 03-23-2006, 01:26 PM

Do they work.. or better yet.. HOW do they work?? I have seen them in LFS, but thought they were just another gadget to get my cash.. Thanks!

Ok.. I just read HOW they work.. I think I get it.. but do they work well??

tracygh · 03-23-2006, 01:44 PM

I have a couple that came free with my filters, and they work great. If you are going to buy one, just make sure you buy one that floats. That way if you "drop" it, you can grab it easily without reaching through the depths of your aquarium.
A warning, the magnets are VERY strong, and can hurt if you pinch yourself. One of my kids snapped it on another's earlobe...it wasn't pretty

Tracy

jim532 · 03-23-2006, 01:45 PM

the do work and quite well. if the on the inside falls off though, make sure you take it out and clean it off, My Acrylic has a scratch from some really fine crushed coral that i didn't notice had gotten on it.

ringfinger · 03-23-2006, 02:04 PM

They work great. Stick with the floating kind and be sure to get the correct type depending on whether you have glass or acrylic.

I will also agree how strong they are...I was sitting at my computer reading and just messing around with my Mag-Float without paying close attention. I'm not sure exactly how it happened...but it pinched my lip. There was blood and cursing. Strong enough to clean algae for sure!

**Fishyfanatic** · 03-23-2006, 02:15 PM

I've had a few and they didn't work like I had hoped. They are good for getting off diatoms or green dust algae. But for spot algae, it wouldn't even make a dent.

localhost · 03-23-2006, 02:41 PM

My Magfloat works great on everything except coraline on the front glass. That requires a razor. I can clean the front of my 45G (36"x24") in 2 minutes with mine. I usually go over the tank twice horizontally and twice vertically. Gets it perfect every time.

**Zagz** · 03-23-2006, 02:45 PM

I have a couple of them and they do work, but it is still faster to use a scrubber IMO. The main difference is whether or not you want to stay dry.

sherry · 03-23-2006, 02:46 PM

don't use it on an acrylic tank.. even teh ones's made for acrylic..

the magfloat won't scratch, but if you pick up a piece of substrate by accident you can carve quite the little design into your tank.... especailly eco complete which has iron ore in it.

my last tank had the mark of zorro on it.. I gave up on algae scrapers after that and went for olive nerite snails .. No algae, no scratchee

chabooky386 · 03-23-2006, 04:19 PM

Yeo i agree with sherry

tropicfishman · 03-23-2006, 05:12 PM

I love these things, there fun for my little niece to play with, they just attach on the inside and outside of the tank through magnets and you just slide them around to remove build up on the tank walls

03-23-2006, 01:26 PM	#1
MickieFish Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Myrtle Beach, SC Posts: 64	Magnet Algae Cleaners Do they work.. or better yet.. HOW do they work?? I have seen them in LFS, but thought they were just another gadget to get my cash.. Thanks! Ok.. I just read HOW they work.. I think I get it.. but do they work well??

03-23-2006, 01:44 PM	#2
tracygh Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Alliston, Ontario, Canada Posts: 444 Images: 4	I have a couple that came free with my filters, and they work great. If you are going to buy one, just make sure you buy one that floats. That way if you "drop" it, you can grab it easily without reaching through the depths of your aquarium. A warning, the magnets are VERY strong, and can hurt if you pinch yourself. One of my kids snapped it on another's earlobe...it wasn't pretty Tracy __________________ Tracy of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most

03-23-2006, 02:15 PM	#5
Fishyfanatic Aquarium Advice Addict Community Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois Posts: 10,303 Images: 15	I've had a few and they didn't work like I had hoped. They are good for getting off diatoms or green dust algae. But for spot algae, it wouldn't even make a dent. __________________ Vote for Aquarium Advice 10 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 29 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Community 55 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid Fry 150 Gallon Lake Malawi Cichlid

03-23-2006, 02:41 PM	#6
localhost Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Memphis Posts: 193 Images: 16	My Magfloat works great on everything except coraline on the front glass. That requires a razor. I can clean the front of my 45G (36"x24") in 2 minutes with mine. I usually go over the tank twice horizontally and twice vertically. Gets it perfect every time. __________________ 45G Reef - 65#'s of LR, 3" sand bed, Fluval 304 filled with LR rubble, (2) MJ900, SeaClone 100 protein skimmer with MJ1200 Fish - Ocellaris Clown, Royal Gramma, Purple Firefish, Coral Beauty, Blue Neon Goby Coral - Xenia, Devil's Hand Leather, Toadstool Leather, Green Hairy Mushrooms, Zoanthids Inverts - (2) Peppermint Shrimp, Scarlet Cleaner Shrimp, (5) Turbo Snails, (4) Nassarius Snails, (10) Blue Leg Hermits, Emerald Crab, (3) Scarlett Crabs, some small starfish(hitchhikers) My Aquarium Photos

03-23-2006, 05:12 PM	#10
tropicfishman Aquarium Advice Addict Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ashland KY Posts: 1,890	I love these things, there fun for my little niece to play with, they just attach on the inside and outside of the tank through magnets and you just slide them around to remove build up on the tank walls __________________ I love my clown loaches and red tail shark!!! lol

03-23-2006, 01:45 PM	#3
jim532 Aquarium Advice Regular Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Los Angeles, CA Posts: 59	the do work and quite well. if the on the inside falls off though, make sure you take it out and clean it off, My Acrylic has a scratch from some really fine crushed coral that i didn't notice had gotten on it.

03-23-2006, 02:04 PM	#4
ringfinger Aquarium Advice Freak Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Cedar City, UT Posts: 412 Images: 4	They work great. Stick with the floating kind and be sure to get the correct type depending on whether you have glass or acrylic. I will also agree how strong they are...I was sitting at my computer reading and just messing around with my Mag-Float without paying close attention. I'm not sure exactly how it happened...but it pinched my lip. There was blood and cursing. Strong enough to clean algae for sure!

03-23-2006, 02:46 PM	#8
sherry Aquarium Advice FINatic Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: new york city Posts: 539 Images: 2	don't use it on an acrylic tank.. even teh ones's made for acrylic.. the magfloat won't scratch, but if you pick up a piece of substrate by accident you can carve quite the little design into your tank.... especailly eco complete which has iron ore in it. my last tank had the mark of zorro on it.. I gave up on algae scrapers after that and went for olive nerite snails .. No algae, no scratchee

03-23-2006, 04:19 PM	#9
chabooky386 Aquarium Advice Activist Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Houston Texas Posts: 115	Yeo i agree with sherry

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