One of the most tedious parts of weekly saltwater aquarium maintenance would have to be the regular cleaning of tough algae growth from the glass or surface of the aquarium wall. This type of algae doesn’t just wipe off with a standard magnetic algae cleaner and usually requires the use of a metal blade and a fair bit of elbow grease.
Currently, I have a broken leg so cleaning my saltwater aquarium is a relatively difficult task. Standing over the aquarium scraping the glass for an extended period of time is out of the question. So the other day I was at my local fish store and found a tool called the “flipper” displayed behind the counter. It’s a standard magnetic algae scrubber on one side and then you flip and rotate the pieces and it’s a scraper on the other. The scraper uses a metal blade and is entirely magnetic which means that you don’t need to have your hand in the aquarium for extended periods. The flipper tool also comes with a tough plastic blade if you don’t have a glass saltwater aquarium. The scraper part also floats, so if for some reason the parts separate, you won’t have to go fishing for it.
✅ Best Flipper Algae Scraper For Glass Aquariums
Great at removing algae – Works great as an algae remover. The stainless blade is more of a thin metal piece vice a razor blade. It is not sharp, just at an angle that assists in removing the tough stuff. Be careful when using blade below gravel as it can pick up the gravel and on the back stroke scratch the glass. It takes practice to flip it like they tell you to. Must remove magnet away from glass turn then put back to glass before it falls to the bottom. Has slim design to get in tight places, which won’t allow them to be able to make it boyant.
✅ Best Algae Scraper Replacement Blades for Fish Tank Cleaning Kits
Perfect replacement for Flipper cleaner – As a saltwater aquarium hobbyist, the Flipper magnet cleaner was probably one of the best purchase. These blades are perfect replacements for the original blade that comes with the Flipper cleaner. These fit the large flipper perfectly and are a lot cheaper than having to buy a new one.
I have found after using the flipper that I can clean the aquarium much quicker and do not even have to put my arm in the aquarium. This means I don’t disturb the livestock and put extended stress on my broken leg! The flipper also gets into areas of the aquarium that might be unreachable. My aquarium has live rock very close to the glass on each side and I find my arm doesn’t allow me to reach these areas, I do not have this problem with the flipper. I have no association with this product, I am just an aquarist who is always looking at perfecting the art of saltwater aquarium maintenance.
Algae is a common problem that all saltwater fish tank keepers will have to deal with sooner or later. While most algae problems can be traced back to poor tank care and improper setups there are algae eating aquarium fish that can help you come out a winner in your battle against saltwater aquarium algae.
Common Types Of Marine Aquarium Algae And Animals that Eat Them
- Diatom Algae– This brown film algae is a common saltwater aquarium algae that usually covers the inside glass and gravel of the saltwater fish tank. This rarely gets out of control and what little does grow can easily be taken care of with snails. The astrea and nerite snails will do a great job of eating any diatoms is your tank.
- Hair Algae- Hair is probably the most common and most frustrating saltwater aquarium algae to deal with. Fortunately, it is also a favorite food of many algae-eating aquarium fish. Some of the common fish that are used to eat hair algae are the yellow tang and the lawnmower blenny. The yellow tang does a great job in saltwater fish tanks that are 55 gallons and larger. For smaller systems use the lawnmower blenny. Along with these fish, you can employ urchins to quickly devour the algae from the rocks and decorations.
- Bubble Algae- Bubble algae is very common in saltwater tanks and reef aquariums that use live rock. The most common and effective predator for this marine algae is the mithrax crab, or the emerald crab as it is more commonly known. This docile crab will eat the bubble about 50% of the time and has a docile nature and poses no real threat to other tank mates like some crabs often do. There is no known saltwater fish that eats bubbles.