Best Center brace cleaning methods?

[rickcSMF]

Hello, I just wanted to start a thread to get people to share their cleaning tips for the center brace.

I recently got my hands on my clubs PAR meter and noticed a BIG difference between a clean and dirty center brace. Cleaning the top is easy, but what about under it? Any tips?

Thanks in advance rickC

 

[GrampaDon]

No tips I can think of. I assume its a glass center brace.??
I just wipe mine with clean water ,because im afraid to try anything else that comes in contact with the water. [Unless its dry then I will use vinegar.]

But over time I can see it turning less clear from water spoting.

 

[cloak]

I would just use my mag float everytime I did a water change. (weekly) Piece of cake.

 

[windowlicker916]

I believe vinegar/water solution is safe. Will help get the salt creep off.

Anyone else vouch for this?

Vinegar is an acid so the only risk is it might lower the pH but using this small amount should have 0 effect.

 

[rickcSMF]

Tnx everyone for you input. I was more or less trying to find out if someone has found an awesome/creative way to clean it weekly. I have a 110G tall so it's a long way to the bottom. I keep the water about an inch from the top. I noticed about a 10%+ gain with it clean.

Optimally it would be best to have a reef safe sponge with ro water, but I'm too lazy to do that weekly. The next bet would be to buy a small mag float just for the top... Unless someone can feed me a better idea?

 

[cubsFAN]

how about getting it wet and using some sort of squeegee? I have a black plastic center brace. It lets even less light through than dirty glass.

 

[windowlicker916]

The small mag on the brace would be the worst idea.

Mag cleaners dry = scratches. has to be wet...if you gotta get it wet might as well do it by hand.

 

[RotaryGeek]

I have a huge center brace on my 180, it's like a full 3rd of the top. I keep my water level even with it since my lights are really close and I don't want to worry about the heat from the halide cracking the glass. Every now and then it gets pretty dirty, so I cut off the return pump and let the water drain down for about 10 minutes and when I turn it back on it's clean again. I don't know why, but it works.

 

[NaH2Ofreak]

T...if you gotta get it wet might as well do it by hand.

TWSS!!!!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

When I had a center brace, I just used an one of those kent algae scrapers with the pivoting head and a piece of acrylic safe sponge attached. I soaked it with some ro water and tadaaa.

Dennis

 

[cloak]

The small mag on the brace would be the worst idea.

Mag cleaners dry = scratches. has to be wet...if you gotta get it wet might as well do it by hand.

I've never had any problem with scratches. As a matter of fact I just wiped down my front glass with a dry mag float and it didn't do anything. What are those bristles made out of, nylon?

 

[rickcSMF]

I have a huge center brace on my 180, it's like a full 3rd of the top. I keep my water level even with it since my lights are really close and I don't want to worry about the heat from the halide cracking the glass. Every now and then it gets pretty dirty, so I cut off the return pump and let the water drain down for about 10 minutes and when I turn it back on it's clean again. I don't know why, but it works.

Yeah,
I used to run mine this way too. But now I have a sump in the basement and I have it setup where if for some reason the HOB Overflow stopes working the tank wont flood the front room. I mean the last baffle in my sump is about 3-4g while the tank can take another 5-6g... I'd rather rebuild the pump then the house...

The problem with hand cleaning, is my tank is on a custom stand & is ~32" tall and has a canopy on the top, so it's a pia to clean...

I guess I'll just have to do it once a week when I do my water changes...

Thanks again everyone for your input. If I come up with something better, I'll post it.