Rimless Tank Owners, Please give advise.....

[Enjoy]

Ok, so one minor thing that I am hating about my rimless tank is cleaning the glass near the waterline.
Nearly everytime (everyday) I clean my glass I get a few drops off water that splash over the edge due to the magnet cleaner (hammerhead)

Any advise on how to avoid this? Im tired of cleaning the outside glass everytime I finish cleaning the inside.

Also,
Does anyone have any good examples of floating canopies, as well as DIY screen covers for rimless tanks?
I am probably not going to use a cover since I hate the look, but if it does look decent I may consider it.
For the canopy, Im hoping to either come off the wall behind the tank, or hang from the roof.

Let me know if you guys have any ideas. Thanks in advance:thumbsup:

[gimme?]

here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0CzorCknWQ&feature=player_embedded) is a BRS video for the DIY screen cover.

as for splash, i chase my mag cleaner with a towel on the rim edge, otherwise i just clean up my mess :D

[Reefphile]

I believe some of the rimless tanks at Ali's Amazing Aquariums have canopies just to hide the light fixtures. It may be helpful to go and take a look.

[Maximus]

The only way to prevent water splashing as you clean the top is to go real slow with your cleaning magnet. Sorry to say it but that is one of the drawbacks of rimless tanks.

[cocoaandme]

I use the Mag-Float cleaners that are long and narrow instead of squarish. I turn it so that it is length wise aligned with the rim and then slowly clean the waterline. It doesn't splash as much when you do this because the splashing comes from the wall of water being pushed. So the the smaller the wall the less water that splashes. It really does make a difference. If you want you can try mine.

Or you can just use an algae scraper with a handle like the kent proscrapers.

[Enjoy]

Thanks everyone. I figured I would just have to deal with this, but I figured I would ask if anyone had any tricks.

Does anyone have reflectors in a canopy hanging above a rimless tank? I will be sure to check out Ali's at some point. It's a pretty far drive though.
I have done some searching but came up pretty empty handed.


Any links to pictures are also useful. Thanks!

[Bmwtechray]

I use both the hammerhaed and the Piranha this happens more with the hammerhead cause it has a stronger magnet. Turn it horazontal and take it slow. I like the piranha better.

[s2k]

I just use a kent proscraper to clean the top when I do my water change. quick and takes a few minutes.

[Jmason95]

I put my hand in the tank and clean the top portion with an algae scrubbing pad, then the remaining bottom portion with the magnet cleaner. This has always worked good for me, little to no water spillage.

As far as a floating canopy this is what I did...all of the wiring and ballast are out in my garage behind the tank. This is a shot from when I first set it up, the canopy is hooked to the ceiling with a small chain on each corner:

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo77/Jmason95/Tank.jpg

And for a screen top, I did this...not the cleanest, but the best idea I could some up with that allowed wires into the tank for my Tunzes and Wavemaker. I used a couple of window screen clips to suspend it from the water yet it's flush with the top of the glass so you don't really see it sitting on top...I take it off when people come over though :)

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo77/Jmason95/Tank2.jpg


If you do a search on AgentSps's tank (which I believe is his screen name) he has a very nice rimeless and has a good DIY screen cover.

[BeanMachine]

Or you can just use an algae scraper with a handle like the kent proscrapers.

Thats how I clean my nano. The magnets would splash too much.

[firereef]

I made sure I had a low waterline built when I ordered my tank. 2" from the top. I use my hand to clean the acrylic so I won't scratch it with the magnet cleaner.

[bkoo29]

i have a hammerhead and had the same problem with splashing. If you have the clean part go above the water level and slowly go from one end to the other you will not get splashes. It has been working for me.

[bkoo29]

it sitting on top...I take it off when people come over though :)

http://i363.photobucket.com/albums/oo77/Jmason95/Tank2.jpg

Nice tank. is that a 30x30x18

[rroselavy]

i have a piranha magnet cleaner and I find the magnet WAY too strong for my 3/8" glass thickness. Chatters too much when going slow, and going fast creates too much waves at the surface. I may try to get a thicker pad on the dry side to weaken the magnetic field. For now I mainly use a Kent scraper.

[MrSandman]

Here are some pics of my rimless with suspended canopy

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/263605379_F3VW8-M.jpg

http://www.smugmug.com/photos/263605416_8QNag-M.jpg

I found that one way to minimize the chatter when using my Hammerhaed float is to clean the front pane of glass outside with glass cleaner or polish. This makes it super smooth and i get alot less splashing at the top that way.

The other thing i do is to just use a razor blade to clean at the top. One of the benefits of rimless is that you have easy access to the top of the glass.

[Spssteven]

http://i996.photobucket.com/albums/af81/spssteven/frag%20tank/Pictures027.jpg

My light cover over my Frag tank