recommendations for an algae cleaner

[brownorch]

Does anyone have recommendations for an algae cleaner that will not scratch an acrylic tank? I have a 535g tank that is a pain to clean. I saw on bulkreefsupply.com they have a brand called Free Algae and the product was Tiger Shark that can be used on 3/4in acrylic. Curious if anyone has experience with these or similar products. My challenge will be the 3/4in acrylic.

 

[Midwater]

Crossocheilus Siamensis A.K.A. Siamese Algae Eater

A bunch of these as they grow larger looks amazing.

 

[SalviniCichlidFan]

You can try a bristle nose pleco (unless you keep monster fish in your tank). They're smaller than the common pleco, so less waste and bio load, but at the same time they get the job done.

 

[FJB]

Perhaps I am wrong, but I thought the OP was asking about a device to clean algae off the walls of an acrylic tank? (Without scratching).
I could use a recommendation for that myself. I have seen pricy advertisings but I don’t really know if a regular magni-float will scratch acrylic panels, or it is just hype to get us to buy ‘special’ cleaners.

 

[Trouser Cough]

All of the scrapers intended for acrylic that I've seen do an ok job right out of the box. The problem is that as the typical tank owner gets toward the lower levels of the tank you'll sometimes see a nasty buildup of something right at the substrate line. Dip the scraper beneath the level of the substrate once and you're just about guaranteed that your scraper will pick up a tiny bit of rock, often too small to notice.

The acrylic notices though and as you scrape the tank from that point forward you won't notice the problem until the scratches get pretty bad.

Home Depot > Window Squeegee > Washable cloth cover for same

Use it and then toss it in the wash machine once you've got it close enough to the gravel that you think there might be anything stuck in it.