Cleaning glass around Vortech?

[CJ]

How are you guys cleaning the glass around your vortechs? I'm a little leary of using my magnet so close to the vortech for fear of getting it out of alignment. Moving the pump is out of the question for the same reason. Any suggestions? Thanks.

 

[Kengar]

I use magnet cleaner. the vortech seems to hold its position despite presence of magnet.

 

[summer6]

For normal glass cleaning I use my magnet cleaner carefully around the vortech. I'll remove the wet side (when doing thorough cleaning) and then use a razor blade to really clean it well.

 

[AquariumSpecialty]

same here.

 

[CJ]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

I'm not particularly looking forward to removing the wet side if I don't have to. I can't use full flow so it's not that easy to align.

Good to know I can use the magnet close to it.

 

[melev]

I'm using a Hammerhead cleaning magnet (the kind with the wooden half on the outside of the tank), and it doesn't affect the Vortechs at all. I literally rub it along the motor housing trying to get as close as possible but still leave a small ring of algae near the wet side.

A small piece of acrylic can be used to scrape around it without scratching if you don't mind getting your arm wet.

 

[CJ]

Sounds good. Thanks for the reply melev. I can use a credit card for getting really close. I was concerned about using the magnet. I have a Piranha Float which is pretty strong.

 

[melev]

We have the same series of magnets, except mine is for thicker glass. So I would imagine mine is even stronger, with my tank being 1/2" thick.

 

[CJ]

I'm sure you're right.

 

[jnarowe]

Yeah, well I have a heck of a time and it's tough to use a hard scraper with bumping into the wet end. I end up with these coraline halos around my pumps, but really I should be pulling the wet ends more foten for cleaning anyway, and when I do that, I give the glass a good scraping.

 

[CJ]

Yeah, it did sound like it was going to be a PITA, particularly on the back wall.

 

[rjdudek]

The mag cleaners should be no problem, I would not be afraid of pulling the wet side off. As you work with the pump, it becomes much easier to align. The pump does not change, you just get better at setting them up.