So Expensive....

[fishhead0103666]

For the big tank (which I hope to have running in the next couple of months) I got a brush with extendable handle. It can reach all the walls of the tank.

I haven’t been on in quite a while so forgive me but did you take your big tank down or is this a new bigger tank? I seem to recall you had a big tank for your pacu the last time I was here.

 

[pacu mom]

pacu mom will any car brush do or is there a specific brand? Need this for my tank.

I got mine and Walmart. Don't know if they still have them. Just look for a soft bristle brush with soft bumper like this:



or this one on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/Mothers-155800-Long-Handled-Brush/dp/B001GJ3E2K/ref=sr_1_6?crid=19M6DR6GGVXKM&keywords=long%2Bhandle%2Bcar%2Bwash%2Bbrush%2Bwith%2Bprotective%2Brubber%2Bbumper&qid=1683085329&sprefix=long%2Bhandle%2Bcar%2Bwash%2Bbrush%2Bwith%2Bprotective%2Brubber%2Bbumper%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-6&th=1

 

[kno4te]

pacu mom thank you!

 

[pacu mom]

pacu mom thank you!

I think you will really like it. I got another one with short handle, but rarely use it, and if I do, it is just for the top front seam.

 

[Jon M]

I recently bought a small mag float and tried to use it once. I didn't like it. Back to my car wash brush. Very soft bristles with a protective rubberized bumper, so there is no danger of scratching/damaging the acrylic. The bristles can get up into the tank seam areas and remove any buildup there.

View attachment 1518040


For the big tank (which I hope to have running in the next couple of months) I got a brush with extendable handle. It can reach all the walls of the tank.
View attachment 1518041

I'd be worried those bristles are too course for acrylic. Obviously they are not if you've tried it. I tried it tonight and it seemed to work pretty good. I will say this. If I end up using this for the 240, I'm going to look into your extension idea for the 560 as oppose to spending another 140ish dollars.

Because of the thickness of the acrylic, it takes considerable effort to drag the magnets not to mention the movement is jerky and awkward. As mentioned in a post above, there is also a tendency for sand to get in between the acrylic & the magnet once you are working near the bottom.

View attachment 1518042
I always put a soft cloth between the outside surface and tank, to (hopefully) mitigate any scratches, and change it out often, just in case some grain of sand or grit worked in.
The cloth also helps clean dust off the outside.

So I just tried it tonight. I dunno if my magnets are simply not as strong but I expected some serious resistance from reading some responses, and it's not hard at all to move smoothly with minimum jerking... Will use the cloth next time since I didn't this time. I'll say this, the plastic blade that comes on the end is pretty good for the substrate bottomish area. You face the blade down to substrate and slowly go down and it pushes the sand and gets that surface algae buildup spot but doesn't grab any sand because the blade is far away from the magnets themselves.

My nephews scratched the hell out of my previous glass tank by playing with my mag float near the sand. Right up the front middle, I was so pissed, but they were only 5 or 6. Now I only use soft rags.

I'd be pissed too! No kids in my house!

A good magnet is worth every penny for large acrylic tanks… i spent $150ish on a “great white” algea free brand. Its rated for 1”. Have to keep a piece of foam inbetween the magnet when not in use. I use it on 3/8”-3/4” acrylic. I also use a folded towel on the outside to keep the tanks safe and lessen the strength. The “real” magnets are a workout lol… i don’t use it often but well worth it regardless. If ur not keeping plants, can always return it for a flagtail prochilodus… just as good if not better at cleaning glass haha…

I tried it tonight and I didn't think it worked bad at all! It came with a plastic blade that is supposed to be acrylic safe and its actually really good for getting that line right at the substrate without getting the magnet near substrate. Flag tails really that good at cleaning algae? If only they weren't so ugly, lol....

Tie microfiber cloth to a mop with jumbo rubber bands used for trash bins. I use microfiber cloth on my acrylic tanks. Not just because it soft but it doesn't hold grit (that scratches) like regular towels do. Just rinse, shake and squeeze.

Ya, I was just looking for an easier method than shoving half my body into canopies and tanks. Hell, my ribs are still sore from plumbing the 560. I was on a stepping ladder leaning over and into the tank at the top to put sand in, and I was resting on my ribs, felt a pop and got the wind (barely) knocked out of me. Dunno if I like twisted or layed on a rib wrong but I'm always looking for the easiest most convenient way to do maintenance!

Frequent mistake with mag floats is when a small piece of sand or gravel somehow gets between the pad and acrylic....ive seen several tanks with nice zig zag patterns all over them.

That's what I am worried about. Tried it once tonight. Worked well. It's the inside I'd be more concerned with, since the outside you can pretty much polish and buff at any time full or empty.

In the US Home Depot sells a window cleaning tool that's a squeegee on the end of a stick. That's not particularly innovative but in the same kit they provide a microfiber cover for the squeegee. Once I've used it I remove the cover from the squeegee, toss it in w/ the next load of laundry and pull it back out fresh as new.

I'm sure other places have similar but here's the HD model w/out the stick:

Ettore Complete Window Washer 15010 - The Home Depot

www.homedepot.com

I think I'm gonna look into that for the 560. Did try the mag float on the 240 tonight and seemed to work okay. Was making sure to be real careful. The plastic extension blade on the end makes me nervious going back and forth and not up and down but I've asked a few ppl and they said either direction aint gonna scratch it's just a lil plastic flat surface.

Just stay away from any gravel or sand substrate. Never worked for me since you cannot get near the substrate. Eventually you will scratch the tank.
pacu mom is spot on for how I would clean very large acrylic tanks.

So as I mentioned above, the extension plastic flat blade piece works well at the bottom. You have to slowly push right at the sand and it just moves it and gets that algae line well.

I asked about the plants because I was wondering if you had an algae issue that could possibly be addressed by having your tank lights on a little less.

No plants. I dunno, lights have never been my thing so I'm sure they could be optimized better. However isn't a little algae kind of inevitable over time with any lighting?... I wouldn't consider saying I have like an "ALGAE PROBLEM," it's just kind of weekly basic build up imo.

 

[FJB]

"Flag tails really that good at cleaning algae? If only they weren't so ugly, lol...."

In my experience, flagtails are wonderful at keeping surfaces algae free, except for well-set green spot algae such as the interface of bottom and front/side panels. Even above that interface, my flagtail does not do much for green spot algae but it is amazing on other types + general debris. Again, in my experience no fish or snail would clean that interface and in acrylic tanks the most effective way is the old credit card edge (equivalent to the plastic flat blade piece mentioned here).

I am surprised that the green scrubby pads (such as for dishwashing) have not been mentioned much in this thread. I find them fantastic on my only acrylic tank, as well as in several glass tanks, despite requiring putting my whole arm in the tank. Unless they catch sand grains, they do not scratch acrylic, as the material is softer than the acrylic (remember the Moh's hardness scale from science class? - Only harder materials can scratch softer materials)

I guess the ugliness of flagtails is a personal thing but I find it hard to believe...

 

[Andyroo]

Q: how do you keep the magnet from shuddering/jumping as it moves along?
This one is apparently for up-to 0.5" glass & the tank is 3/8.
There's a velcro'y stuff on the water-side that certainly gets the job done, but the fish do not appreciate the racket.

 

[Jon M]

"Flag tails really that good at cleaning algae? If only they weren't so ugly, lol...."

In my experience, flagtails are wonderful at keeping surfaces algae free, except for well-set green spot algae such as the interface of bottom and front/side panels. Even above that interface, my flagtail does not do much for green spot algae but it is amazing on other types + general debris. Again, in my experience no fish or snail would clean that interface and in acrylic tanks the most effective way is the old credit card edge (equivalent to the plastic flat blade piece mentioned here).

I am surprised that the green scrubby pads (such as for dishwashing) have not been mentioned much in this thread. I find them fantastic on my only acrylic tank, as well as in several glass tanks, despite requiring putting my whole arm in the tank. Unless they catch sand grains, they do not scratch acrylic, as the material is softer than the acrylic (remember the Moh's hardness scale from science class? - Only harder materials can scratch softer materials)

I guess the ugliness of flagtails is a personal thing but I find it hard to believe...

View attachment 1518160

I think they're an okay looking fish and their tail looks neat, but then you get to their head area with their bulgy eyes and weird mouth, lol.

Q: how do you keep the magnet from shuddering/jumping as it moves along?
This one is apparently for up-to 0.5" glass & the tank is 3/8.
There's a velcro'y stuff on the water-side that certainly gets the job done, but the fish do not appreciate the racket.

I just do I guess? It doesn't give me that much resistance? I'll take a video for you later. Where are you seeing this ones for .5" glass? That's incorrect. The 410 is for 3/4" to 1".