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Well this may be one of those moments where all proud acrylic tank owners can take an deserving exhale because it seems that someone might have found the perfect cleaner for your delicate tank. Ladipyg on Reef 2 Reef forums, has used an unconventional tool to help her clean her tank: the Magic Eraser.
What is that you say? Well the Magic Eraser is a Proctor and Gamble product that manages to ‘magically’ erase or wipe out any blemishes on most surfaces. It has been recently marketed as the best cleaning sponge ever to be used at home.
So when Ladipyg used this scrubber on the inside of her tank, she found amazing results. Not only did it help clean the acrylic, but it prohibited the algae to return in faster numbers.
So what is this ‘Magic Eraser”? It is a melamine foam scrubber. Sound worried? According to the wiki article, melamine foam is safe for our reefs:
Melamine foam is a foam-like material consisting of a formaldehyde-melamine-sodium bisulfite copolymer.
The foam is manufactured in Germany by BASF under the name “Basotect”. It has been used for over 20 years as insulation for pipes and ductwork, and has a long history as a soundproofing material for studios, sounds stages, auditoriums, and the like. The low smoke and flame properties of melamine foam prevent it from being a fire hazard[citation needed].
In the early 21st century it was discovered that melamine foam was an effective abrasive cleaner. The open cell foam is microporous and its polymeric substance is extremely hard, so that when used for cleaning it works like extremely fine sandpaper, getting into tiny grooves and pits in the object being cleaned. On a larger scale the material feels soft. Because the bubbles interconnect, its structure is more like a maze of fibreglass strands than like the array of separate bubbles in, for example, styrofoam.
The most important thing is it doesn’t have any harmful chemicals that would react under water.
So, I am tracking this thread for us acrylic owners. Because if this proves to be THE cleaner of choice for the immediate future, you will be the first to be aware. In fact, I will be trying this method out very soon and will post some results. But if you are already out the door, make sure you buy the PLAIN ones. Not the scented or anything else.
Now where is my nearest supermarket?
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Trained by the thirteenth ring master of the Sian Xiuang Coral Temple. Currently is apprenticing the art of Acropora shaping in the ancient tradition of Ninja Fragging. Known as the SPS hero! 
indeed very interesting … and i am /will be out the door along asap.
having said that, let me know your results
Results…..
AMAZING! With little effort, the sponge removes algae film like it is a sharp razor. The tougher spots need a tiny bit more pressure, but they come out instantly. I was really worried, but after reading that this is only a sponge made out of melamine, without any chemicals, then I was at ease.
Do you think it will work on glass too?
I don’t see why not. Its a harder surface, which is better in any case.
are you totally certain it’s chemical free? The CAW environmental council is running a boycott on this product because, according to them it DOES contain harmful chemicals. I don’t know much more than this, but I wanted to at least bring it up to make you aware.
Gregg, you are misinformed. The actual product is made out of melamine, a different form of plastic. There are no chemicals within the compound that can or will leach into the tank.
The reason for the boycott is because of the deaths associates with tainted food. Food was ingested and caused trauma to the body. In pets it was causing kidney stones. So as long as it is not ingested by humans or animals (ie fish) it should be ok.
Thank you for the clarification buddy. I threw one out because I was told it was harmful! Oh what a waste
Hey!
Will it work on a long-term sustained green algae on glass?
My tank had this hard to remove, green algae over months and months, I have scrap it with a sharp pointer knife to get it off. I was wondering if the Magic Eraser will make it easier, or not.
By the way, my tank is 65-Gallon Marine Fish Tank only.
The algae is rough, very very hard to remove
I believe that it will. You will need to apply a bit more pressure, but it will come off. Coraline I do not think will.
I am totally surprised by all the attention this article by me on Reef 2 Reef forum generated. I am seeing blogs all over the place…you’d be surprised how many people started blogs AFTER my initial contribution and are claiming credit for this. Vlad, you are very stand up and I thank you for giving credit where credit is due. I would not say the Magic Eraser won’t remove coraline but remember that the coraline algae is hard and as it comes off and is trapped into the Magic eraser you may end up with tiny scratches. You would be prone to blame it on the sponge but it was actually the coraline that stuck to the sponge that scratched the tank. You also have to be very careful when you get close to the sandbed if you have one not to pick up sand on the sponge that will also scratch. Like anything else, there are different grades of acrylic…my tank is made of high grade stuff so it does not scratch. I’m guessing if I went to Home Depot and got a small thin piece of cheap acrylic to test the sponge on and rubbed real hard…it may cause scratches. I find my tank getting better and better using this. I hope it’s made someone’s cleaning chore easier.
First off, thank you for reading our blog. We put a lot of effort in educating as many reefers around the world on an array of topics.
Long time ago, I learned a valuable lesson to always give credit to those where its due. I would feel ashamed to have tried to take credit for this discovery.
You are right about the sponge. You cannot remove coraline, and you better be careful around the sandbed. As well, my entire system was built from high end cast acrylic. I think that is the key. As a result, those scratches that everyone is worried about, don’t even cross my mind. I guess if it does scratch your panes, it will tell you that you may not have the high quality acrylic that you originally thought.
very interesting thread
thanks for posting