Long-Handle Algae Brush
Two faces: one scrubs, one wipes.
Two faces on one head: abrasive for the hard green spots and soft for the film underneath. The handle length means you clean the far corner without wetting your shoulder.
Taxes calculated at checkout
- Abrasive face for green spot algae
- Soft face for the film left behind
- 47, 57 or 67 cm handle
- Non-slip grip, hole for hanging
- Will not scratch glass or acrylic
Size: 47 cm
Why you'll love it
Made for happy, healthy pets
Algae comes off in two stages
Scrubbing alone leaves a smeared haze that you only notice once the light is back on. The second, softer face is what actually makes the glass look clean.
Length is the whole point
The algae you cannot reach is the algae that spreads. A 67 cm handle gets to the bottom back corner of a tall tank, which is exactly where it always starts.
Nothing metal touches the glass
Blade scrapers are quick and they are also how acrylic gets permanently scratched. Sponge and pad on both faces means it is safe on either material.
Good fit if
- Tall tanks where the bottom of the glass is out of reach
- Green spot algae, which a sponge alone will not shift
- Anyone who dislikes putting an arm in the tank
- Glass and acrylic alike, since it will not scratch either
Look elsewhere if
- You have a small nano tank where a hand is easier
- You prefer a magnetic cleaner that lives in the tank
- You need something to reach behind hardscape
Two kinds of algae on glass
What grows on aquarium glass is not one thing. There is a soft green film that appears within days and wipes off with almost no effort, and there is green spot algae, which forms hard raised dots that are firmly attached and will not move under a sponge however long you rub.
Those need different actions. The abrasive face has enough bite to lift the hard spots, and the soft face clears the film and the residue left behind. Doing both in one pass is why a double-sided head is quicker than a single sponge, which handles half the problem and leaves the other half.
Fixing the cause
Scrubbing treats the symptom. Persistent algae almost always comes down to too many hours of light, direct sunlight falling on the tank, or excess nutrients from overfeeding. Cutting the photoperiod to six hours on a timer and reviewing how much food goes in resolves a large share of cases at no cost.
Some algae is normal and a completely spotless tank is usually a very new one. The aim is keeping it in check rather than eliminating it, and a weekly pass over the front and side panels before a water change is a sensible routine.
Choosing a handle length
Match the handle to the tank depth plus the height of the cabinet rim you have to reach over. For a standard sixty centimetre tank the shortest handle is generally enough; for anything taller, or a tank on a low stand, the longer options stop you leaning in awkwardly.
Watch the corners and the silicone seams. An abrasive pad dragged along a seam can damage the silicone over time, and on acrylic even a soft pad will mark the surface if grit has been picked up. Rinse the pad before it goes in, and work with a light touch rather than pressure.
In the box
Everything you need
- Double-sided algae brush
How it works
Simple, from basket to doorstep
- 1
Browse
Shop by pet or category to find exactly what your cat or dog needs, no wading through thousands of listings.
- 2
Order
Check out securely with card, PayPal or one-tap Apple Pay & Google Pay. Free delivery over £45.
- 3
Delivered
Fast, tracked dispatch straight to your door, and a happier pet before you know it.
The details
Specifications
- Handle lengths
- 47, 57 or 67 cm
- Head
- Abrasive pad plus soft sponge
- Handle
- Stainless steel, non-slip grip
- Suits
- Glass, acrylic and plastic tanks
- Note
- Sponge colour supplied at random
Size guide
| Handle | Reaches | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| 47 cm | Standard 30–40 cm deep tanks | Most 60 cm community setups |
| 57 cm | Deeper tanks, or a low stand | 45–50 cm depth, or a deep cabinet rim |
| 67 cm | Tall tanks | Anything over 50 cm deep, and display tanks |
Add the tank depth to the height of any cabinet rim you have to lean over. If you are between lengths, the longer handle costs nothing in use and saves leaning into the water.
Rinsing and grit
Rinse the head thoroughly after every use, in tank water rather than the tap where you can. The real risk to your glass is a piece of gravel or sand caught in the pad, which turns the whole thing into sandpaper, so check the pad by hand before each use rather than after you have scratched something.
Let it dry between uses rather than leaving it wet in a cupboard, and check the steel handle for corrosion where it meets the head. Replace the pads when the abrasive face has gone smooth, since a worn pad needs pressure to work and pressure is what damages seams.
Good questions
Before you buy
The sponge ships in white or yellow and the supplier picks, so we cannot promise one. The tool is identical either way.
It lifts most of it. Hard green spot that has been on the glass for months usually needs a dedicated blade scraper on glass tanks, but never on acrylic.
57 cm is the comfortable middle. Go to 67 cm if the tank is tall rather than long, since depth is what defeats a short handle.
Usually, with the abrasive face and patience. Very hard deposits on old glass may need a dedicated blade scraper, used carefully and never near a silicone seam.
The 47 cm handle is generally enough. Go longer if the tank sits low, if there is a deep cabinet rim to reach over, or if the tank is taller than standard.
It is designed not to scratch, but acrylic is soft and grit trapped in the pad will mark it. Check the pad by hand before every use and work with a light touch.
Last reviewed 30 August 2026