Magnet cleaner scratched my glass

[tchat]

I’m livid. First reef tank and used the flipper float magnet glass cleaner. Used long horizontal strokes, not near the sand bed, new blade when I bought the tank. Now there are small long horizontal scratches on my front display. Luckily these are really only noticeable when you crouch down and look up at the glass so I think I can grow to accept it but i can’t let it happen again.

What is the absolute safest tool to use on the glass? Long hand held scraper with a plastic blade? Any brand or product recommendations?

 

[Reefer Matt]

I use the Flipper Platinum Cleaner. It’s a long handle with replaceable plastic cards.

 

[nautical_nathaniel]

Some scratches are inevitable if you're rubbing on the glass, but generally the safest tool will probably be a plastic hand scraper, definitely not the best working or easiest to use tool though.

I've had a mag float with the metal scraper for years now that has been the best tool for me, I've still made scratches in the glass with it from not being careful though.

For whatever reason though, flipper cleaners are bad about scratching in my experience, so I use mine without the blades attached and just use the soft pad side to remove film algae every other day. The mag float is used for the tougher stuff that eventually builds up once a week.

 

[vlangel]

I used to be an aquarium tech and I couldn't use the magnet cleaners without scraping the glass.
I just use either a scrub pad or the end of the metal scraper without the long handle. That way I can run a finger along the blade and brush sand off of it.