Acrylic clean W/O scratching

[bomber]

How do you keep your acrylic tanks algae free without scratching them?

I have used a magnet in the past but this scratches my acrylic.

Is there a solution you guys use to kill the plant matter in the water?

 

[jcardona1]

psst...they make magnet cleaners just for acrylic tanks

 

[RedDwarf]

You have to be very careful with those magnet cleaners. One little speck of sand and it becomes your very own magnet sand paper. When you are cleaning towards the sand or gravel level of the tank, it's best to clean the magnet cleaner often to make sure no particles are trapped in it, or you can just use a acrylic safe algae pad to clean the transition between the graven and the rest of the tank. It happens with glass tanks to so your not alone, it just much easier to scratch acrylic.

 

[jcardona1]

Yeah, sand or gravel is what scratches acrylic, not the cleaner itself. I always use a piece of thick napkin inbetween the acrylic and the cleaner, on the inside of the tank. It cleans A LOT better and it helps to keep sand/small gravel out of it

 

[bomber]

Thanks for the replies...

Shopping for a new house for my monsters...

and 96" to 120" is like double the price.... wth.

 

[RedDwarf]

That's why I go with glass tanks. What you are discovering is that acrylic sheets are normally stocked in 8' sections. Anything bigger and the company would have to special order the sheets and since they aren't stocking large quantities of material this size they love to stick it to you in regards to price. I'm just waiting for the day that transparent aluminum is invented.

 

[jsodwi]

I use a piece of cut up cotton t shirt between my magnets inside and out

 

[bomber]

That's why I go with glass tanks. What you are discovering is that acrylic sheets are normally stocked in 8' sections. Anything bigger and the company would have to special order the sheets and since they aren't stocking large quantities of material this size they love to stick it to you in regards to price. I'm just waiting for the day that transparent aluminum is invented.

I would do glass tanks but its so heavy and my friends are tired of helping me move my tanks. lol....... I have had help with moving 3x 6'ers 1x4'er , and 1x 9' tank in the last year all GLASS...... my friends have had enough, they told me so.
You are so right about how they want to stick it to me cause I wanted a 10'er acrylic.... yikes..$$$ they will not budge.

I use a piece of cut up cotton t shirt between my magnets inside and out

Thanks I will have to try this....