New Print and eBook on Amazon Marine Aquarium Algae Control by Robert (Bob) Fenner

Glass tank care, algae scrapers   9/2/13
Hello crew,
I saved, and planned, and devoted countless ours to the set up of my 265 gallon glass tank. I thought buying the Mag Float was the answer to keeping the glass looking pristine every day. Well, it only took a tiny grain of sand (I was being so careful!!!) and I put scratches in a section of it!
Oh, the devastation is without words. I decided to go back to the way I clean my 50 gallon by using the scraper. Somehow the blade must have gotten bent slightly and I noticed it scratching my 50 gallon. I can't believe after all these years of tank maintenance I'm having so much trouble now. I am now TERRIFIED to clean the glass for fear of scratching it again. Now that the sides look awful from not being cleaned, I must find a way. Is there any devise or technique you would recommend to clean glass with no risk of scratches? I've read so much, but in those readings the Mag Float was praised. Please help me. This is making me crazy.
-Alyssa
<Am a big fan of all-plastic scrapers; used by hand... or old "credit cards"... Bob Fenner>

Algae, scraped food 4/19/13
Hi Crew,
<Hello Adam>
 I thought I would share this with you readers. I must admit it came around by accident. Sometimes I am busy so my tank is left for a week without cleaning the glass as I know it is only cosmetic and if anything actually aids water quality. Anyway when I scraped off the glass with a shaving blade as the algae is firm and does not come away with a magnetic cleaner
brown/green sheets of algae about 1 inch floated in the water and my Regal Tang came out and was so happy I have never seen him move so fast eating it with relish leaving little chance for my Majestic and Blueface who also liked it and served two purposes, one to give them a varied diet (they are in perfect health) and two I didn't need to trawl the tank with a net to
try and catch the algae. I am thinking of leaving one edge of the tank like this as clearly the fish like the algae and it cannot introduce disease into the tank.
<Will post for others Adam.  Thank you for sharing your experience.  James (Salty Dog)>
 Regards, Adam

Best Blades for Algae Scraper?    2/24/13
Hi, I just bought an algae scraper that takes double edge blades and wondered what are the best type of replacements? Some come oiled and I was wondering if they'd be ok and if so how to get the oil off safely? Also, do I need stainless blades and are the platinum coated stainless ok to use in an aquarium? Thanks
<I don't think it makes much of a difference what kind of blade you decide to use, but you definitely want to get the oil off.  I'd say wipe as much as you can off with a paper towel or blue shop towel, then use some rubbing alcohol to get as much more oil as possible removed. Better to buy blades that are not oiled in the first place.  The blades shouldn't be left in the tank, so I don't think it really matters whether you get the stainless with or without platinum. Do dry them completely to avoid corrosion (rust) - Rick>

Using ceramic magnets in reef tank 1/31/09
I like the idea of these frag racks, so I decided to build one. The first one I had just has arms, it works, but not very versatile. I want to make one with magnets. I was at Lowes and saw these magnets called ceramic magnets. They were not coated in anything, its just the magnets. I was wondering if these were safe to use in a reef tank, or do I have to use plastic coated ones?
<These really should be coated....they do have ferrous material in them.
Not only will they rust, but the magnets can actually separate over time.
Ceramic sounds nice, but these are the cheapo magnets.>
They look like the same magnets that are used inside Maxijet powerheads.
<They are indeed, but the magnets in the pumps do have a coating to prevent corrosion. Scott V.>