Cleaning Acrylic Tank with a Magic Eraser

[mseepman]

I can't believe that this would be safe. I have been busy cleaning my previous home (I moved) and have used a ton of these...everywhere you use them they leave a soapy white residue that has to be cleaned up with water and a towel. I struggle to see how that residue is good for your tank.

[Delphinus]

I thought there was detergent in them but maybe there are some that do and some that don't. Googling for more info I came across this - http://reefbuilders.com/2009/03/03/magic-eraser-clean/

Ok, so people are using magic erasers in their fish tanks. mind = blown.

[ckmullin]

From memory formaldehyde was used in the manufacturing process but not necessary in the product itself. Those 'erasers' are melamine foam and the structure looks almost like steel wool. So that's why it can remove stuff because of it's internal structure. For me I wouldn't use a product like that in such a delicate ecosystem too worried perhaps about what 'might be' during production. One thing that I don't like is that the product actually 'wears down'. Hence you'll now have minute particles of melamine foam in your tank which no doubly some critters will ingest. A few years back there was a story out of China with liquid baby food about someone adding melamine to inflate protein counts and of course went horribly wrong because melamine in any regard should not be consumed. Why the labels say to keep away from kids and pets because it's possible they could ingest the product.

I'm much happier with something like this.

http://www.homedepot.ca/product/razo...-blades/972573




my 2c

[Reef Pilot]

Hmmm, this sounds promising.... I have an acrylic tank, that is very hard to get really clean. But am heading off to Maui in a week, so probably not a good time to try it...

[sbcam]

I cut them using a fully extended sharp exacto knife. It doesnt sponge down while pressing them like a regular sponge would.. it was actually suprisingly easy to cut... failry straight. They dont have to be perfect.. just about 1/8" thick to allow the magnet to have enough pressure to do its job.

[brotherd]

I have used the original type (not the kitchen /bathroom one) in a freshwater glass tank in the past, no problems at all with livestock or plants. I would hesitate to use it in an sps tank though...

[The Codfather]

Guys have been using them for years, they do work incredibly well. If you want some reading there are several threads about them on RC.