Mag float glass cleaner - not worth it.
 

Sort of just a PSA for those thinking about getting a mag float glass cleaner for their aquarium - it doesn't work that well. I purchased the glass version and it didn't clean the glass very well..AND I now have 2 new scratches on the glass :cry: - and yes, the magnet was clean (brand new). The one for acrylic aquariums might do better.

The cleaning surface is very abrasive (like the hard plastic loops in velcro) and they are spaced quite far apart, therefore leaving streaks of uncleaned areas. My old Hagen magnetic cleaner does a far better job at cleaning the glass without adding scratches, because the cleaning surface is like a nylon felt surface. It doesn't float, but it does the job well.

That is all....

mag float
 

When I bought mine I opted for the heavy duty one (rated for 16mm glass) even though I'm only 12mm. So far it works great, but I'm anal about cleaning the outside of the glass first before starting.

Had one for years, never had an issue with it. It does work much better if you add the razor scrapper attachment to it.

Has anyone tried the razor scraper on a bowfront tank? I was wondering if it would still work on the curves

I'm glad it worked for some of you. Unfortunately for me, it is a waste of $14 :cry:

Its worked well for me, i think you may be part of a very small minority.

Those hard nylon or plastic loops can not scratch glass. There had to be a piece of sand or something stuck in the pad for it to do that. (Maybe it got picked up from the bottom while cleaning.)

I've used them before and found them to work very well.

Now I use the Hammerhead and it can even clean coraline off with enough scrubbing. :)

[quote=G1GY;227916]Those hard nylon or plastic loops can not scratch glass. There had to be a piece of sand or something stuck in the pad for it to do that. (Maybe it got picked up from the bottom while cleaning.)
QUOTE]

Yes, you would think so, but there is something hard in the cleaning pad. It didn't even touch any substrate before the scratch. Anyway, I still can't see how it would clean soft algae better than the nylon felt. Now hard algae, that may be a different story.

Basically I don't think this cleaner is worth the hype. It takes many strokes to clean an area which took only two strokes with my old one. Maybe it needs a break-in period. :lol:

Yeah, I'm west indian asian, so what?? Just joking :lol:

Basically I don't think this cleaner is worth the hype. It takes many strokes to clean an area which took only two strokes with my old one. Maybe it needs a break-in period. :lol:[/quote]

It certainly IS worth the hype for the majority of my aquarium clients that don't wish to stick their hand in the tank to clean between my visits....


Raf ;)

IMHO it's not any better than the standard magnetic cleaner - that's what I meant about not worth the hype.

I've used the razor scaper on bowfronts and quarter round tanks and it works well, just used it running with the curve of the glass instead of up and down the glass. :)

I've used just about every size of the mag floats for years and never had a problem. I've also used the hagen ones, they work well too, except they rust if you leave them in the tank like you can with the mag floats.

Consider yourself lucky if all you waste on this hobby was 14 bucks. The alternative mag scrapper is a hammerhead and they run around 80-130 bucks.

yeah I got a hammerhead today. paid $75 for the 1/2-5/8" version. works great though! It had that velcro strip, but I attached the included coarse scrub pad that came with it and it worked great.

I was thinking of getting a mag though, for my 33g cichlid tank, but I'm glad you've posted your own thoughts. I don't think I will now.

LOL You just had to didn't you. LOL