API Algae Pad for Glass
Pack size
1 pad
Water type
Freshwater + Saltwater
Size
75 x 75 mm (pad)
API Algae Pad for Glass
Lifts algae film off glass with nothing but your hand. The API algae pad for glass aquariums is a plain hand-held scrubbing pad – no handle, no magnet, no mechanism. That is the point of it: your hand goes where a long-handled tool cannot, into corners, along the silicone seams and around the base of decor. One pad per pack, suitable for freshwater and saltwater tanks.
Read the next section before you buy. This pad is for glass only.
Glass only – not for acrylic
API's instruction is unambiguous: "For use on glass aquariums only. Do not use on acrylic, Plexiglas, or any surface other than glass."
API does not publish the reason, so we will not invent one. What matters is that the restriction is one-way and it comes from the manufacturer. If your tank is acrylic, buy the API Hand Held Algae Pad for Acrylics instead – same idea, different pad, made for soft panels. Scratches in acrylic are permanent and there is no way back from them.
Key features
- Hand-held, no handle – API describes it as giving hand-held control to clean nooks and crannies. You get direct feel for how hard you are pressing.
- Reaches where scrapers cannot – internal corners, seams and the awkward gap behind an internal filter.
- Freshwater and saltwater – API lists it across both its freshwater and saltwater accessory ranges.
- One pad per pack – API states the pack contains one scrubbing pad.
- Nothing to break – no blade, no fittings, no replacement parts to chase.
Specifications
| Type | Hand-held algae scrubbing pad |
|---|---|
| Surface | Glass aquariums only |
| Handle | None – bare hand-held pad |
| Pack quantity | 1 pad |
| Water type | Freshwater and saltwater |
| Blade | None – this is a pad, not a bladed scraper |
How to use it, and the cautions
API's directions and cautions, in full:
- Rinse the pad with tap water before and after each use.
- Do not use on dry surfaces.
- To avoid scratching or breaking aquarium glass, do not use extreme pressure when scrubbing.
- Do not use on acrylic, Plexiglas, or any surface other than glass.
One habit worth adding: check the pad for a trapped grain of gravel or sand before it touches the glass again. API gives that warning on its glass scraper, and the physics is the same on a pad – a single grain dragged across a panel leaves a line you will look at for years.
Suitable for, and not suitable for
Use it for:
- Green spot and film algae on glass panels.
- Corners, silicone seams and tight spaces a long-handled tool cannot reach.
- Quick touch-ups on the front pane between full maintenance sessions.
Do not use it for:
- Acrylic or Plexiglas tanks – API prohibits it. Use the acrylic pad.
- Deep tanks, if you would rather keep your arm dry. A long-handled tool is the better answer there.
- Hard calcium or coralline deposits – a pad will not shift them; that is a job for a blade.
What API does not publish
API's accessory pages are sparse. There is no published figure for the pad's dimensions, its material, its weight, or whether it floats or sinks, and API does not state a replacement interval or offer replacement pads. Retailers commonly list this pad as roughly 3 inches square, but that is not an API figure and we have not put it in the spec table.
Goes well with
- API Hand Held Algae Pad for Acrylics – the acrylic-safe version, if you also keep an acrylic tank.
- API Algae Scraper for Acrylic Aquariums – the long-handled option for deep tanks.
- API AlgaeFix – if you are scrubbing the same panel every few days, treat the cause rather than the symptom.
- API Freshwater Master Test Kit – persistent algae usually tracks back to nitrate and phosphate.
- The full API range – the rest of the maintenance and treatment line.
Warranty and delivery
API publishes no warranty term for its cleaning accessories. Your rights under the Australian Consumer Law apply regardless and are not limited by anything stated here. Ships as standard freight.
Common questions
Can I use the API algae pad for glass on an acrylic tank?
No. API states it is for use on glass aquariums only and must not be used on acrylic, Plexiglas or any surface other than glass. The API Hand Held Algae Pad for Acrylics is the correct product for acrylic panels.
Does the API algae pad come with a handle?
No. It is a bare hand-held pad with no handle and no magnet. If you want reach without wetting your arm, the API Algae Scraper with handle is the alternative.
How many pads are in a pack?
One. API states the product contains 1 scrubbing pad. Some overseas retailers sell a separate two-count pack, which is a different item number.
Will it scratch my aquarium glass?
API's caution is to avoid extreme pressure when scrubbing, to prevent scratching or breaking the glass. The other risk is grit: rinse the pad before and after each use so a trapped grain of gravel is not dragged across the panel.
Can I use it in a saltwater tank?
Yes. API lists this pad across both its freshwater and saltwater accessory ranges.
