Tank Glass cleaning

Question
Hi there I want to know how to clean off green algae from the tank walls. I really don't want to have to take down the whole tank, etc. Is there a fast and easy way to do it? Thanks Amanda

Answer
Hi Amanda,

There are many ways to clean the glass free of algae. I'll list the two most common ones below:

Algae Glass Magnet Cleaner (Nathan's Rating: 4.5/5)
- These are small magnets which have an abrasive pad (will not scratch glass) on one side, and a strong magnet on the other. The abrasive side goes into the water, and the magnet part sticks to the outside of the glass with the abrasive side. By moving the magnet part up, down, left, right, etc, you effectively clean the galss without ever needing to get your hands wet.
Pros: Easy, reliable, no water splashing and no need to get hands wet!
Cons: Cannot reach corners, may take multiple wipes to completely clean area, glue from magnet might get stuck to glass, resulting in unsightly look (only in cheap ones)

Handled Glass Scraper Pad (Nathan's Rating: 4/5)
- This is like a dish washing pad, but of course, it's glass-safe. It also comes with a handle so you don't need to get your hand wet (as long as it is long enough!) These are commonly found in pet stores, and are quite cheap compared to other supplies.
Pros: Easy, effective, small chance of getting hand wet, can reach corners
Cons: Needs to be cleaned, will splash water all over the place if you're not careful

There's also the method of stripping down the entire tank to clean the glass, which you've mentioned. I rate that at 0/5, because the methods above are so much easier!

Good Luck, and Happy Fishkeeping!