Scraper for Low-Iron Glass

[ZoWhat]

Just now getting my Planet Aquarium in play. It has low iron glass

I dont want to scratch it...

Whats the best scrapper to remove algae that will grow on the internal glass?

 

[JTP424]

Plastic Credit card :)

 

[Fish Fan]

Magic Erasers (melamine sponges) also work well on glass

 

[Science/G]

I use a razorblade scraper on my IM aquarium. I have never had a problem, not a scratch.

 

[mfinn]

Just now getting my Planet Aquarium in play. It has low iron glass

I dont want to scratch it...

Whats the best scrapper to remove algae that will grow on the internal glass?

Be very careful with typical blade type scrappers. I scratched both my starfire glass tanks with blade scrappers. One was a flipper and the other was one I bought off amazon.

If you use magnet type glass cleaners, take them out of the tank and double check to make sure no sand or shells get trapped. If fact I would stay completely away from sand with those.

 

[ZoWhat]

OP here....

is there any handle that you can buy that purposely holds a Magic Eraser sponge?

 

[NeutronMan]

Be very careful with typical blade type scrappers. I scratched both my starfire glass tanks with blade scrappers. One was a flipper and the other was one I bought off amazon.

If you use magnet type glass cleaners, take them out of the tank and double check to make sure no sand or shells get trapped. If fact I would stay completely away from sand with those.

Bare bottom here (no sand) and still ruined my glass with the magnetic metal style scrapers.

 

[Michael Hughes]

I would avoid a magic eraser. They work on the same principle as sandpaper (they're abrasive), but just a much a much smaller grain size, if you will. Not only does it risk adding microscratches to the glass, but they also come apart the longer you use them, potentially leaving lots of particles in your tank.

 

[JumboShrimp]

I use a Flipper, but I am neurotically careful about checking it before, during, and after use for even the tiniest trapped grain on sand.

 

[Fish Fan]

OP here....

is there any handle that you can buy that purposely holds a Magic Eraser sponge?

Many people will sandwich a slice of magic eraser between their magnetic scrapers. I just get in there with sponge in hand like a Neanderthal

In searching, I found this post where someone found some kind of stick you can attach the sponges to, it looks like it's out of stock today, but there may be similar products available:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...-deep-acrylic-aquariums.1036307/post-12405052
I've use Magic Erasers for years without putting any scratches in my glass tanks, I know many other members here on R2R that use them, even on acrylic tanks; no worries about scratches

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...kes-cleaning-glass-easy-inside-and-out.88267/https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/magic-eraser-reef-safe.819278/

 

[IceNein]

Yeah, this is the first I've heard anyone say that magic erasers scratch glass.

 

[JTP424]

Many people will sandwich a slice of magic eraser between their magnetic scrapers. I just get in there with sponge in hand like a Neanderthal

In searching, I found this post where someone found some kind of stick you can attach the sponges to, it looks like it's out of stock today, but there may be similar products available:
https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/d...-deep-acrylic-aquariums.1036307/post-12405052
I've use Magic Erasers for years without putting any scratches in my glass tanks, I know many other members here on R2R that use them, even on acrylic tanks; no worries about scratches

https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/r...kes-cleaning-glass-easy-inside-and-out.88267/https://www.reef2reef.com/threads/magic-eraser-reef-safe.819278/

Maybe a test is required!!!
Have somebody sit and work their magic eraser into a glass and acrylic tank to see what happens after hours.
Who here is good with robotics and can set up this test :)

 

[slingfox]

I use a Tunze Care Magnet which comes with a plastic blade. Get the magnet which pairs with your glass thickness.

The Tunze is much safer than the Flipper with the metal blade. I got a bunch of scratches on my glass via the Flipper on my prior tank. No issues with Tunze so far albeit I have only been using it for 3 months or so.

 

[W31Olds]

Be very careful with typical blade type scrappers. I scratched both my starfire glass tanks with blade scrappers. One was a flipper and the other was one I bought off amazon.

If you use magnet type glass cleaners, take them out of the tank and double check to make sure no sand or shells get trapped. If fact I would stay completely away from sand with those.

I use an old style Razor Blade Scraper with a 24" handle and never had a problem. The reason is Low Iron glass is actually harder than Standard Float Aquarium Glass. Both types are harder that metal scrapers so using one will not scratch glass. I also use a magnetic scraper but with those you must be more careful to not trap grit between the Magnet. Mfinn, your glass was most likely scratched by grit. Metal scrapers would never be sold if they consistently scratched glass. One of the biggest ways to scratch your glass is moving Rockwork around.

 

[mfinn]

I use an old style Razor Blade Scraper with a 24" handle and never had a problem. The reason is Low Iron glass is actually harder than Standard Float Aquarium Glass. Both types are harder that metal scrapers so using one will not scratch glass. I also use a magnetic scraper but with those you must be more careful to not trap grit between the Magnet. Mfinn, your glass was most likely scratched by grit. Metal scrapers would never be sold if they consistently scratched glass. One of the biggest ways to scratch your glass is moving Rockwork around.

It was scratched exactly in the place I ran both glass scrapers.
I know exactly when it happened.
So yes the amazon utility knife blade I used scratched my glass.
The Flipper I used also scratched it.

 

[RoanokeReef]

Flipper Scratched the glass, no issue with Tunze. I have also used the knock off Magic Erasers for years with no issue.

 

[mothergoose22]

Tunze care magnet no scratches yet. Although only used for a month now. But I believe that it would be almost impossible to get scratches from sand particles. Only the blades are touching the glass if I’m not mistaken.

 

[W31Olds]

Uncommon is an expert on glass as is Joe. Let's see what they have to say?
@UncommonSense
@Joe Glass Cages

 

[fandaga]

I use magic eraser sheets for weekly cleaning instead of the pads. They’re more space saving/affordable and just dispose each time. No scratches. I also have tunze cleaner with plastic scraper for daily use.

 

[UncommonSense]

Uncommon is an expert on glass as is Joe. Let's see what they have to say?
@UncommonSense
@Joe Glass Cages

I just examined one of Joe’s tanks in excruciating detail all afternoon, in fact! I can confidently say that he holds the crown here!

That said, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many hundreds of pounds of both standard soda-lime float glass, and low-iron…

In my experience, they are equally challenging to scratch… granted, I almost exclusively use a square edged razor blade held in my fingertips so I have maximum force feedback to feel for a caught blade edge, and I go through blades like candy so I always have a good scraping edge…


That said, here are the facts:


— Both standard glass, and low-iron glass are ~2.5g/cm3 density, both are 5-6 hardness, or 4.5-4.7 GPa Knoop hardness. They are effectively identical from a physics perspective.


Now, this ignores the fact that low-iron glass has a physically higher light transmission % (<10%, varies by thickness)… this translates to improved visual clarity, which might actually cause smaller scratches to be more perceptible on low iron, vs. standard glass!

There’s also the price factor; if you paid extra for the low-iron glass, you’re more likely to notice any little imperfections in it!



TLDR: both types of glass are almost identically scratch resistant, you’re just more likely to actually notice the scratch exists on low-iron glass!


Edit: for the curious among you, here’s an interesting glass performance comparison from the world of windows, highlighting the aforementioned light transmittance benefit at various thicknesses!