AQUANEAT Double Sided Sponge Algae Brush

The AQUANEAT Fish Tank Cleaning Tool is a simple double sided sponge brush on a long plastic handle. It is made for wiping algae and film off the inside of glass fish tanks, and it is one of the simplest ways to keep the view clear between water changes.

Size and reach

The sponge head measures 33 x 2.53 and the handle is 12.53 long. That is enough to reach the lower panels of most small and mid-size tanks without wetting your sleeve. The handle has a non-slip surface, and a hole at the end lets you hang it beside the tank.

Glass only

AQUANEAT is clear that this brush suits glass aquariums and is not suitable for acrylic or plastic tanks. Sponges can trap grit, and acrylic scratches easily, so acrylic owners should choose a pad rated for it, such as the Aqueon magnetic algae scraper.

How to use it

• Wipe in overlapping strokes from top to bottom.
• Stop short of the gravel line to avoid picking up sand.
• Rinse the sponge in old tank water, not tap water, then hang it to dry.
• Run the siphon after scrubbing to remove loosened algae.

What it will and will not remove

Soft green film and brown diatoms come off quickly. Hard green spot algae usually needs a blade, so many keepers keep a sponge for routine wipes and a scraper like the KIRECOO stainless scraper for tough patches.

Who it suits

A good basic tool for beginners with glass tanks. It costs little, takes no setup and covers most weekly glass cleaning.

Because it has no blade and no magnet, there is little that can go wrong. Replace the brush once the sponge starts to tear or hold debris after rinsing, since a worn sponge spreads algae around rather than lifting it off the glass.