Best (And Worst) Aquarium Algae Magnet Cleaners

#AlgaeMagnets #AlgaeCleaner
Whether you have a freshwater or saltwater tank, this video tells you the pros and cons of the most popular algae magnets on the market. As well as which you should buy, and which you should avoid.
Find my best fishy photos on Instagram - search 'Reef Dork'.
A select few great reef buys:
RO filter - amzn.to/2Xsq0KQ
Tunze algae magnet - amzn.to/2YydNku
Tunze frag rack - amzn.to/2XrW4d0
Tunze auto top off - amzn.to/2XrEryR
ATM colony - amzn.to/2YDlMwQ
Digital thermometer - amzn.to/2xy145i
Heating controller - amzn.to/2LDhmlB
Activated carbon - amzn.to/2YtLZO6
Coral glue - amzn.to/2XparDP
ICP test - amzn.to/2XsrZ1M
Rowaphos - amzn.to/2Xqx8m6
Red Sea salt - amzn.to/2XqGxub
Some of these links have an affiliate code - so if you make a purchase, I get a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!
For any commercial enquiries, please send me a PM, contact me via Instagram or leave a comment below.

[@bazyb2586]

I have picked up a tunze after watching your video and it’s great. Really enjoy all your videos.

[@leem7924]

Thank you for the great advise Alex, your my go-to-guy whenever i am looking to purchase new tasty reef equipment or tackling any problems, very much appreciate as always! Thank you!!!!

[@jesterscorner879]

Thank You for this. Frustrated Mag Float owner here who has effectively given up on it and just gone to a long handled scraper for everything. Your vid pretty much confirms my experience with the Mag Float and I will be going with the Tunze now as it's effectively a more agile algae scraper without the hassle and fuss.

[@michaelfisher6260]

Thanks for this, after watching I took the chance and brought the Tunze, it's amazing, keep up reviews 👌

[@enzomontini758]

Congrats on 15.5k subscribers lucky I was one of the first few and followed you thru ur reefing journey,

[@ReefDork]

Cheers for being here so long Enzo. One of my most regular commenters 👍

[@ReefSpy]

I’ve been using Flipper and agree with everything you said about Mag Float. I’ll have to look into the Tunze!

[@rafwhitcher679]

I’ve just bought one on you recommendation I’ve been in the hobby for about eight years and wish I’d bought one from the beginning what a game changer!!! When you know you know 👍

[@lunes-1]

I have the flipper one year now and is doing a good job.only thing is that you have to avoid be too close on the edges and damage the silicone of the tank.

[@joshpowell8153]

care magnet all the way, the blades are sharp and it's nearly always a 1 pass clean jobby, never hand an issue aside from the felt on the dry side moving about but usually only because I'm creating friction moving the magnet quick to clean so it could be warming up the adhesive. great video Alex, look forward to more!!

[@Tetrastuctural_Intelligence]

Awesome Timing! I just started looking for a magnet scraper because 4 months in, the scraping wand is a pain!

[@jonandlisa2000]

Totally agree, I’ve had many but the Tunze I feel is the safest, most effective and less likely to scratch your glass

[@shabbir78]

My friday/weekend is incomplete without watching your new video

[@dirkvanassche7102]

I've also had all of these and totally agree with your order of preference :) Great info !

[@rednamalas5079]

I feel like I’ve been doing this wrong the entire time! I’ve always had magfloats and to be completely honest, they only serve as a perch for my flame hawk fish because, like you said, they do absolutely nothing against algae that has existed for more than 3 days. I will 100% be picking up a Tunze! Thank you so much for the video!

[@davidhughes7180]

Great vid as always. Tunze long user here. There is no other scraper!

[@BowkeyB]

I have a flipper and it's been a very gud work horse over the years, the tunze is something I've looked at an thought about getting at my LFS for some time.... After watching your new video, maybe it's time?👍 Loving the content!!!

[@danieljones2969]

I had a mag float until I watched this video and just ordered the tunze care magnet can't wait for it to arrive 😀

[@modotd3885]

Thanx. That's one item I don't need to research on my to buy list.

[@salmansalman-vw1ps]

thanks dude for the video comparison..am getting the tunze

[@markmckinnell2204]

Like your good self - I have several for my reef and yes the Tunze strong is better than my flipper mainly because the blade gets into tighter places and keeps its blade edge sharper much longer .

[@lindasreef]

Absolutely agree, the Tunze is brilliant!

[@jonathanstephens7804]

I have the Flipper and its the best one I've had. I have yet to try the Tunze though and have thought about trying one for the stubborn Coraline algae

[@aseanhicks6796]

I have one for the last 4 years I love it

[@chrisfield3092]

Recently purchased the Flipper and its awesome.

[@martinkennedy3506]

I've got all 3 of those and agree with almost everything you said.. I wouldn't say replacement blades for the flipper are cheap though. I cant find the metal blades for less than £20 a pair. That seems a lot when the scraper itself was only £37. The tunze ones are £7 for 3 which is more like it.

[@tommyriordan870]

I use a good old sponge on a long handle

[@MrDon967]

i use that also in my nano but i will say i stirred up ALOT of sand last night getting the bottom cleaned so that's why i'm here coz i don't want to do that in my 120g reef setup coming up

[@ICanDoItMyself]

I tried the Tunze on my 300 and was not impressed. I returned it. I have been using a Magfloat with blade attachment which works ok. But the replacement blades keep arriving already bent. The blades are thin and EASILY deformed. I want to try the Flippr next but the XL is $77 American on Amazon! Btw, love the channel! Short, to the point but lots of info.

[@sheridan3001]

Who else noticed the new extra light unit👍

[@enzomontini758]

Spoiler alert for next weeks video #place ur bets

[@absolutecarrot4191]

I use the flipper and I love it

[@2buncharlie]

I got the flipper the other day, and it doesn’t touch my tank just leaves lines in it, did u file it or anything?

[@BigGuyAl007]

Nice one Alex. Your 100% correct with magnets!! Whats next on the topic your new led lights on your tank 😆

[@ReefDork]

😁

[@BigGuyAl007]

😎

[@nkksnano1176]

i love the flipper it scares the crap out of me when i try to flip it in my tank tho

[@davidhughes1843]

I see new lights and I have the tunze and I agree as its the best that I have used

[@Corie155]

I use the fluval scraper, its actually not bad for the pricing 👍

[@kian8550]

Video about the Purple tang!!!!

[@dungareehungry9652]

thanks

[@CarlEves]

Just bought a Tunze after watching this. Always used a Mag float which I avoided using in the end as it was useless. Talk about a strong magnet on the Tunze I nearly suffered crush injuries getting it out of the box 😄😄

[@ReefDork]

🤣

[@mikeydee7815]

I have all three also and tunze for me is the best option.

[@pugf1]

I have both flipper and tunze the flipper has scratched my tank so only use the blade side now. Tunze is the best.

[@marcanda10]

Hi there, I've just been bought a PondXpert viewing tower and was wondering if you have any suggestions (that won't break the bank) for a magnetic acrylic cleaner that'll cope with curved sides?

[@coralcruze3561]

excellent vid. I didn't hear if the Tunze is strictly a glass scraper or it can be used on acrylic? do they have acrylic "safe" blades? thanks

[@ReefDork]

I think the plastic blades can be used on acrylic but not metal

[@stephendadd8440]

Very useful video. Thanks very much. To me, the vast majority of magnetic scrapers are totally useless. Their supposed selling point of being able to float, simply tells me that they have incredibly weak magnets that aren't fit for purpose. If they were any good, then they wouldn't come apart in the first place. Up until now I have made my own magnetic scrapers. I have bought normal ones, then ordered the strong neo magnets from ebay and araldited them to the pathetic scrapers, which beefs them up and makes them strong. However, despite being hugely more effective, they still remain Heath Robinson. I am now off to buy a Tunze! I didn't know about them before!

[@bearded-flipflop7122]

Hi, another great vid. I have 2 tunze they are great cleaners. Can I ask do you leave yours in full time still and also do you keep the blade on it? Or do you just fit it when you need to clean the harder stuff like coraline?

[@ReefDork]

I leave it in all the time - never noticed any issues, but it probably wouldn't hurt to leave it out of the tank.

[@bearded-flipflop7122]

@@ReefDork I leave mine in both of my tanks in shady areas as to not grow algae on them as much. I admit it took a while to learn how to move it between panels and I quickly learnt to do so near the bottom of the tank as the Long is quite heavy and when it falls it kicks up sand.

[@-Wreckanize-]

I have a nano. Rolling brick on ebay for algae, and an algae scrapper for the hard stuff.

[@juancarlosolmos5547]

Afyer a lot of research, I found out about Tunze Magnet Cleaner. It is great, and you don't have to worry about trapping dand in between that may scratch your glass. I fully agree with your video!

[@graeme7662]

Tunze the best bar none great piece of kit

[@arunabhadas4927]

Mag float has separate scraping units; so if someone uses magfloat with scraper then will you still say that it can't remove those hard to remove algaes?

[@madshepsreef282]

Flipper all the way...on the dry side Iv put the magnet into a soft micro cleaning pad so as I clean the inside with the scrapper I’m polishing the outside. I put an old vid up on my KZbin channel, it was like inventing the wheel for me.

[@karennation3580]

Does only having 4 contact points on the flipper make the magnet weaker? I have 3 or 4 off brands like petco and none of them work very well and I know me putting my hands in the tank so often has to be effecting growth so I have made a vow to myself that once I get my frags glued down my hands are staying out! Just changed water yesterday and used a single blade razor and a piece of sponge for my nano AIO because even the ones on sticks I have bought dont work well and hate using them so I am in desperate need of something I will stick to!

[@ReefDork]

Nope, if anything it makes it stronger - like the point of a stiletto

[@spoonz1065]

I have the tunze. The big boy on a 8ft tank My only issue is my hand cramps holding the skinny dry side . Wish they made it a bit more chunky . Apart from that best ever x

[@ReefDork]

The life jacket thing goes on both sides - that might help

[@justinnguyen9978]

The Tunze is awesome. Wish the razor blades would become easier to acquire, cant seem to buy them anywhere.

[@spoonz1065]

Amazon

[@spoonz1065]

www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00RKGPB3I/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LWUnFbXZBPHGH There u go

[@nathan8415]

Whats a good algae magnet for a bowfront tank? I have a 32G biocube and its hard to clean the front two corners.

[@ReefDork]

I'd say the Tunze is worth a try still

[@suvporridge2603]

I have mag float with the blade attachment, its not so bad...

[@vietbarberchannel]

coolest flipper

[@91yjeeper]

Do you have USA affiliate codes? I wanted to thank you for this review, super helpful!

[@ReefDork]

Thanks for that. I don't at the moment but it's on my to do list!

[@dltguitar6532]

Which is the best one for acrylic tanks that wont scratch it?

[@ReefDork]

I don't know i'm afraid but i'd guess the Flipper and Tunze will scratch acrylic

[@robertbrill9436]

How does the tunze perform on the back of the tank - where I have a background attached?

[@ReefDork]

I don't have a background so can't say for sure, but i'd expect it to be as good as it is elsewhere and not peel off or damage the background

[@Mike__B]

I'm guessing that Tunze magnet won't work for acrylic? That said, I use a Mighty Magnet, it's similar to the Magfloat just MUCH stronger, then combine that with a Dobie pad they scrape through most stuff fairly well, now it won't get through caked on coraline very well but if you use it regularly you will never get to that point.

[@ReefDork]

Correct - the Flipper has an acrylic attachment but no idea how gentle it is...

[@vincentlong6254]

My glass is 10m, Do you recon the nano one would be good enough?

[@ReefDork]

It's rated for 10mm but I find it quite weak on my 8mm glass. It's fine, but I wouldn't want to go much thicker

[@hippyhippo100]

When and why did you remove the T5 hybrid?

[@ReefDork]

Last week! I need to do a video on this... 🙂

[@piotrzemanek5947]

Hi where from to buy tunze blades? I just got mine second hand but I don't have blade :(

[@ReefDork]

Can't remember now, think I just chose the first shop Google suggested...

[@darthcon34]

Do you leave ur scraper in the tank?

[@ReefDork]

Yep

[@alexandonian1273]

Did I miss a video of you getting a new light?

[@ReefDork]

Nope, but I have! Need to do a tank update...

[@Andy.H1]

Could you please show how you go from the front glass to the side. You do it too quickly in the vid to see. Thanks

[@ReefDork]

The speed is the key!

[@sunnygoold9449]

This is a MUCH more important video than you think - IF you are new to reefing and think it's expensive then watch this 3 times. I watched videos on them and thought they were sales vids - I got some cheap magnet off Amazon and it just doesn't get caked on Algae off. I just ordered a Tunze - I can't wait. Importantly size matters - specifically the size of the magnet and how it works with the blade - a cheap magnet may be strong enough but a slightly off blade is close to useless.

[@mattod5491]

The fact that tunze sinks (those with deep tanks may find that annoying) and awkward to hold as the grip is pretty narrow and can also fall apart in use were all downsides I experienced. For all but the largest tanks I like a magfloat with the head of a cheap double sided blade scraper milliputted on. Takes a little practise to get right and perhaps not for the thickest glass tanks either but for up to about 12mm that’s my favourite

[@tomg5405]

Just 3 products? That is a limited reviews

[@Ankaru1320]

I had tunze and was disappointed with it. Upgraded to flipper never looked back.

[@louis7925]

First comment!!

[@oliverburns1984]

Best algae cleaner is Vibrant

[@tomg5405]

The flipper is a waist of time , the soft side nit clean all so after the soft side you have to use the blade,better the floaty with blade on the sale time,the flipper is two times more job don't know why so many people love it,maybe they never had something else

[@josephposada1830]

Well worn credit card 🤪