Kirecoo 25.63 Stainless Steel Algae Scraper

The Kirecoo algae scraper is a long-handled blade scraper for glass aquariums. It’s made entirely of stainless steel, so it doesn’t rust in fresh or salt water, and it comes with 10 replaceable blades. With the extension pole fitted it reaches 25.6 inches; leave the extension off and it’s 18.1 inches for smaller tanks.

When a blade scraper beats a pad or magnet

Soft green film comes off with a sponge or a magnetic cleaner. Hard spot algae, coralline algae and mineral crust don’t. A sharp blade shaves them off the glass with far less effort. That’s why many keepers have a magnet for daily wiping, like the Mag-Float, and a blade scraper for the stubborn spots.

Design details

• Right-angle head. The blade sits at a right angle, which helps it get into corners and along the bottom edge of the glass.
• Holes in the head. Water flows through the head, so it moves through the tank with less drag.
• Tool-free assembly. The handle screws onto the pole, and the blade is held between the head and a steel plate by two large screws. It comes apart for storage.

Use it carefully

The blades are sharp. Keep them away from the silicone seams in the corners, since cutting the sealant can cause leaks. Don’t use a steel blade on acrylic tanks, which scratch easily; this scraper is made for glass. Also check that no sand or gravel is trapped under the blade before you pull it down the glass, because grit can scratch even glass. Change blades with care, and swap in a fresh one when it stops cutting cleanly.

Tank sizes

At 25.6 inches it reaches the bottom of most standard tanks without getting your arm wet. For short nano tanks, the 18.1-inch setup is easier to control.

Who should look elsewhere

If you keep an acrylic tank, or only deal with light green film, a magnetic cleaner or soft pad is the safer choice.