scratches...uhhhggg

[SlamaJama]

Does any1 have any fool proof way of not scratching the glass for clean up...i have a sand bed again and if the mag floats get a grain of sand in them it will scratch, the acrylic blades dont seem to do the job...need help!

 

[fritz]

Yeah don't let the Mag floats get sand in them. Seriously.
You can hear when there is a grain of sand, pull it out. Wash it off in tap water, scrub it with your hand and visually inspect it. Put it back in, slowly move it to make sure no "scratching" sound. Also try to keep it from the sand. When you have to clean by the sand do so in fluid movements, nothing jerky. You don't want the mags to separate at all.

If you go slow and wipe you'll be all good. (Now isn't that just good advice in general though)

 

[Pedro]

Also, besides sand, look out for those calcerous snails. If they form a shell it will have the same effect. I never leave my magnetic cleaners in the tank for this reason. Much better to keep it clean.

 

[marrone]

Place a piece of polyster pad between the magnet and the glass, that's what I do on my big tanks. You can see any sand that may get on it and the pad will make the attraction between the magnets some what less. So if you get a piece of sand on there it shouldn't scratch the glass. Also the pad will create a tighter fit between the glass and the magnet making it hardier for sand to get underneath.

Also as Fred said you should clean off the magnets really good before you go to clean the glass, removing any sand that maybe on the magnet. You should also do the bottom by the sand last.

 

[Pedro]

Just to add but i never come too close to the bottom where i can pick up sand. For that i use the kent pro scraper, it works great.

 

[bklynreef]

Mike, whats doing. Hope your tanks comming along.
As you know ive only had glass tanks all my life and one thing I would never use is those mag floats. The glass scrapper works much better and is much safer than the mag floats. I suggest you buy the one that is 30-36 inches long with the steel blade, that is the one ive always used with no scratches ever. cleans like crystal too.
good luck mike.

 

[Craig]

a clean razor blade works best

 

[GQ22]

the razor was also scratching my glass. now i use the kent pro scraper and it works great. this combined with a medium powered mag float for the mid to upper portions of the glass works great.

 

[SlamaJama]

thxs guys...

 

[bklynreef]

Mike, my mistake. i just noticed scratches on my glass even with the blade. sand or something hard must have been stuck to the blade. funny thing though, i never had this problem before.