Seachem Algae Scraper

• Three edges, one cartridge – slide the cartridge out of the head, flip it and re-insert to change edge, with no tools and no spare parts to lose.
• Retractable blade housing – the blade hides inside the head when it is not in use, which matters in a drawer or a bucket of wet gear.
• Two blade heights – set the blade proud for hard algae or shallow for a light pass close to silicone seams.
• It floats – drop it in a deep tank and it comes back up, rather than landing on your aquascape.
• White body – removed algae shows against the tool, so you can see what you have actually cleared.
• Ergonomic handle with a hanging hole – comfortable in several grips, and it stores on a hook instead of in the sump cabinet.
• Freshwater and marine – no coatings or additives to worry about in a reef system.

All three take the same three working edges. Replacement parts are a different story: the 31 cm and 46 cm handles share the same replacement blade, pad and cartridge, but Seachem does not list separate replacement parts for the 15 cm (3199) model – treat it as non-serviceable rather than assuming it takes the same spares as the two longer handles. Length is otherwise the only difference – choose it by how far you need to reach to the substrate, not by tank volume.

The metal blade is for glass only. There is no way to make it safe on acrylic, so if you own an acrylic tank, leave that edge in the drawer and work with the pad and plastic blade.

• Scraper handle and head
• Cartridge with the moulded plastic blade
• Metal blade
• Soft scrubbing pad

Not included: replacement metal blades, replacement pads and replacement cartridges are consumables and are sold separately for the 31 cm and 46 cm handles. The plastic blade is part of the cartridge, so a worn plastic edge means a new cartridge rather than a new blade.

Suitable for:

• Glass aquariums, freshwater and marine
• Acrylic aquariums, using the soft pad and plastic blade
• Sumps, overflow boxes and quarantine tanks
• Anyone who would rather not put a bare razor blade near a silicone seam

Not suitable for:

• Running the metal blade on acrylic, at any blade height
• Working over silicone seams with the metal blade – it will cut them
• Tanks deeper than the handle reaches; step up a size rather than putting your arm in to the shoulder
• Magnet-cleaner duty. This is a hand tool and needs you in the water.

• Rinse in fresh water and dry the metal blade after every use. Salt left on a blade is what ends its life, not algae.
• Check the blade edge before each session. A chipped metal blade will score glass.
• Work top down, and keep the head off the substrate. Sand picked up at the gravel line is the usual cause of a scratched panel on any tank.
• Retract the blade before storing, and hang it by the handle hole.
• Keep it for aquarium use only – detergent residue is the one thing that makes a clean tool unsafe.

• Seachem Algae Scraper Replacement Blades, 3 pack – the metal blades, which are the part that wears fastest.
• Seachem Algae Scraper Replacement Pads, 3 pack – the pads shaped for the scraper head.
• Seachem Algae Scraper Replacement Cartridge – needed when the moulded plastic blade wears down.
• Seachem Algae Pad 25 mm, 3 pack – hand pads for the corners and equipment the scraper head cannot reach.
• Seachem PhosGuard – if the glass needs doing weekly, phosphate control treats the cause.

A hand tool with consumable blades and pads. Faults and misdescription are covered by the consumer guarantees under Australian Consumer Law, which apply in addition to anything the manufacturer offers. Normal wear of blades and pads in use is not a fault.

Can I use the Seachem Algae Scraper on an acrylic tank?

Yes, using the soft pad or the plastic blade. The metal blade is for glass only and will damage acrylic. The soft pad is the safest choice on acrylic and is also the edge that lifts algae out of existing scratches.

How do I change from the blade to the pad?

Slide the cartridge out of the scraper head, flip it over and re-insert it. It takes a few seconds and needs no tools.

What is the difference between the three sizes?

Handle length only, at 15 cm, 31 cm and 46 cm, and all three use the same three working edges. Replacement parts, though, are only sold for the 31 cm and 46 cm handles – Seachem doesn't list separate spares for the 15 cm. Pick by how deep your tank is: 15 cm for nanos and sumps, 31 cm for most standard tanks, 46 cm where you would otherwise be in the water to the shoulder.

Will it sink if I drop it?

No. The scraper floats, so it comes back to the surface rather than landing on corals or a planted foreground.

Is it safe in a reef tank?

Yes, in fresh and salt water. Rinse and dry the metal blade after use in salt water, since that is what shortens a blade's life.

Will the metal blade cut my silicone seams?

It can, and that is the most expensive mistake to make with any bladed scraper. Use the lower blade height near the corners, or switch to the pad for the last few centimetres before a seam.