| The Flipper | Tunze Care Magnet | Mag-Float | |
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| Glass size | 1/4″ – 1″ | 1/4″ – 1″ | 3/16″ – 5/8″ |
| Blade Included | Yes | Yes | No |
| Floats | Yes | No | Yes |
| Price | Medium-High | Medium | Low |
Having an effective magnetic scraper in your aquarium may seem like a small aspect, but cheap ones can sratch glass or plain just don’t work. Likewise, reaching into the tank to clean off the glass can introduce harmful oils from our skin, making an effective aquarium scraper essential. Because of this I have tested each of these models in an effort to find the best magnetic scraper for aquariums.
The Flipper Algae Magnet
| Glass Size | Dimensions |
| 1/4″ View on Amazon |
3.5″ x 1/2″ |
| 1/2″ View on Amazon |
3.5″ x 1/2″ |
| 1″ View on Amazon |
4″ x 3/4″ |
The flipper offers both the glass scraping capabilities of the Tunze care magnet as well as the scrubbing abilities of the more traditional magnetic cleaners. The flipper will also float to the top of the tank unlike the Tunze, making it ideal for deep tanks. This combination allows any and all tanks to have crystal clear glass everytime with minimal effort.
Pros/Cons
- Pros:
- Plastic & Metal blades included
- Floats
- Has multiple sizes
- Good for glass and acrylic
- Condenses algae for easy removal
- Cons:
- Only plastic blades are acylic safe
When using the Flipper it is highly reccomended to try and use only the scraper whenever possible. Using a scrubber to remove algae will turn it into dust that will pollute the tank. The scraper will instead turn the algae into thin rolls which may be eaten by fish and inverts. You may even remove these rolls to keep the tanks excess nutrients down.
Tunze Care Magnet
| Glass Size | Dimensions |
| 1/4″ View on Amazon |
1.57″ x 3.19″ |
| 3/8″ View on Amazon |
1.77″ x 3″ |
| 1/2″ View on Amazon |
3.4″ x 5.5″ |
| 3/4″ View on Amazon |
3.4″ x 5.5″ |
| 1″ View on Amazon |
3.39″ x 5.51″ |
The Tunze Care magnets offer something most magnetic scrapers don’t. Their design uses a blade at the end of the scraper without a rough flat surface. This allows you to more easily remove tough algae, including even coraline, without putting your hand into the tank.
Pros/Cons
- Pros:
- Multiple blades included
- Has multiple sizes
- Good for glass and acrylic
- Condenses algae for easy removal
- Cons:
- Does not float
- Only small blades are acylic safe
- Tiring to hold
The Tunze care magnet rolls the algae into coils rather than dust into the tank. These rolls then become food for any algae eating fish or invert and help keep the tank water more clear. You can even suction these rolls out of the tank once you are done cleaning.
The rounded edges on the Tunze care magnet allow you to easily switch between sides of the tank without damaging the silicone seals. Be sure not to swap sides too quickly, as if the magnet falls you will have to retrieve it by hand.
The small size of the magnet makes it a bit difficult to hold for long periods of time, but the blades make short work of any algae they touch. Only those trying to clean larger tanks all in one go should have any issues.
Mag-Float
| Glass Size | Dimensions |
| 3/16″ View on Amazon |
2.5″ x 1 3/8″ |
| 3/8″ View on Amazon |
3.5″ x 1 3/8″ |
| 5/8″ View on Amazon |
3.25″ x 2.5″ |
The Mag-float is often seen as an entry level magnetic scraper due to its lower strength magnets. This means they are unsitable for tanks with over 5/8″ thick glass. For all tanks smaller than that, the Mag-float brings plenty of value at quite the low cost.
Pros/Cons
- Pros:
- Floats
- Has multiple sizes
- Good for glass and acrylic
- Cons:
- Scraping blades not included
The Mag-float works best when paired with its blades, which are not included. They are not too expensive and will hold onto the Mag-float well, making the blades a smart purchase in my opinion.
Without the blades, the Mag-float will do a fine job of keeping the glass clear, however the scrubber can get sand stuck under it. Should this happen the Mag-float can actually scratch the glass of the aquarium if you are too agressive with your cleaning. This is one of the biggest reasons why I reccomend the blades. Use these for the large ones and these for the medium and small versions.
