Quick answer
Match the magnet to your tank's glass thickness and material first: choose the Flipper Pico 2-in-1 for small, thin-glass tanks, the NANO FLOAT for glass up to 6 mm, the standard FLOAT for glass or acrylic up to 1/2 inch, and the MAX FLOAT for glass or acrylic up to 3/4 inch. The float feature is the main upgrade as you move up in size.
Why tank thickness decides the model
A magnetic cleaner only works if the outside magnet can hold the inside pad firmly against the glass. Too weak a magnet on thick glass lets the pad slip or fall; too strong a magnet on thin glass can be hard to slide and may stress seams. Flipper publishes a maximum thickness for each model, so use that number as your first filter rather than tank gallonage alone.
Material matters too. The Pico and NANO FLOAT are listed for glass tanks, while the standard FLOAT and MAX FLOAT are listed for both glass and acrylic. If you keep an acrylic tank, skip the glass-only models to avoid scratching.
What the float feature changes
The NANO FLOAT, standard FLOAT and MAX FLOAT are floating models: if the inside pad detaches, it rises to the surface so you can retrieve it without reaching into the tank. The Pico is a fixed small-format cleaner without that float feature in the supplied specs. For a small tank where the pad rarely travels far, that trade-off is usually acceptable; for deeper tanks, the float feature saves real hassle.
Scrubber and scraper in one handle
All four models share the same 2-in-1 idea: an abrasive scrubbing pad for soft algae, and a scraper that flips into place when you rotate the outside handle. That means one tool handles routine film and tougher spots without swapping magnets mid-clean. The difference is size and magnet strength, not the basic cleaning motion.
Trade-offs by model
- Flipper Pico 2-in-1: Choose it for a small glass tank with thin walls and quick daily soft-algae cleanup. Trade-off: no float feature and no acrylic rating in the supplied specs, so it is not the safer pick for deeper tanks or acrylic. Measure glass thickness before assuming a small tank means a Pico.
- Flipper NANO FLOAT: Choose it for glass tanks up to 6 mm or about 25 gallons when you want the floating pad and flip scraper. Trade-off: it is still glass-only, so acrylic owners should move up to the standard FLOAT. The NANO is the smallest Flipper with the float feature.
- Flipper FLOAT (standard): Choose it for glass or acrylic up to 1/2 inch when you want one magnet for a mid-size tank. Trade-off: it will not hold reliably on thicker walls, so do not size up a tank later without checking the 12 mm limit. If your glass is near 1/2 inch, confirm the actual thickness rather than estimating.
- Flipper MAX FLOAT: Choose it for glass or acrylic up to 3/4 inch, especially large or thick-walled tanks. Trade-off: it is the most expensive option and stronger than needed on thin glass, where a smaller model is easier to control. Buy the MAX only when the tank thickness requires it.
Model facts at a glance
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Flipper Pico 2-in-1 Magnetic Aquarium Cleaner Magnet: Fun-sized 2-in-1 magnetic scrubber/scraper with a flip-to-scrape handle and a glass-only small-tank design. It suits quick daily algae removal in a small glass tank where a full-size magnet would be clumsy.
Flipper Pico 2-in-1 Magnetic Aquarium Cleaner Magnet
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Flipper NANO FLOAT 2 in 1 Magnetic Aquarium Algae Cleaner: Rated for glass tanks up to 6 mm (1/4 inch) thick or about 25 gallons, with the floating scrub-flip-scrape design. It is the step up for nano and small glass tanks that need the float safety feature without paying for a larger magnet.
Flipper NANO FLOAT 2 in 1 Magnetic Aquarium Algae Cleaner
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Flipper FLOAT 2 in 1 Magnetic Aquarium Algae Cleaner (Standard): Rated for glass and acrylic tanks up to 1/2 inch (12 mm) thick, with the floating GRIP/FLIP handle. It covers most mid-size glass or acrylic aquariums where a Pico or NANO would be too weak.
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Flipper MAX FLOAT 2 in 1 Magnetic Aquarium Algae Cleaner: Rated for glass and acrylic tanks up to 3/4 inch (19 mm) thick, with the floating scrub-flip-scrape design. It is the choice for thick-walled or large tanks where thinner-rated magnets lose grip.
Which Flipper should you buy?
Best for
- Small glass tanks under about 25 gallons: Pico or NANO FLOAT
- Mid-size glass or acrylic tanks up to 1/2 inch: standard FLOAT
- Thick glass or acrylic up to 3/4 inch: MAX FLOAT
Not for
- Acrylic tanks: skip the Pico and NANO FLOAT, which are listed for glass only
- Tanks thicker than 3/4 inch: none of these models is rated for that thickness
- Anyone wanting a single magnet to cover every tank size: match each tank separately
