Magnifers for viewing in tank...

[Ready4Launch]

Found a lot of older threads with links to some items that have websites that no longer exist or the product no longer exists.

What is anyone using? I see the Deep See and the Innovative Systems portal. Also read about some people using cheap Harbor Freight stuff or something they randomly had. I want something that can be mounted and be hands-free like the first two I mentioned.

What's the latest and greatest in 2019?

 

[Duffer]

seen this at my local LFS, i do not own one but was impressive

https://flippercleaner.com/collections/shop-all/products/deepsee-magnified-aquarium-viewer

 

[Ready4Launch]

Yeah that is the DeepSee I was referring to.

 

[mcpeachy]

Yeah that is the DeepSee I was referring to.

I'm looking into both of these too! Did you end up getting one? I think portal says 10x magnification and the other is 3x? I'm not positive though. There are also people who made knock off portals...not sure if they are any good. supposedly, the portal is a prescription lens...but i don't really understand that.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

I just got my flipper in the mail last week. It's a lot of fun and the price was right. My only concern is the magnifying glass hangs off the magnet and can rotate. My kids like to spin it which might scratch the acrylic tank

 

[Mical]

Just saw this on BRS - https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/deepsee-magnified-magnetic-viewer-4-flipper.html

 

[mcpeachy]

I just got my flipper in the mail last week. It's a lot of fun and the price was right. My only concern is the magnifying glass hangs off the magnet and can rotate. My kids like to spin it which might scratch the acrylic tank

my kids would likely end up doing the same thing. i think its made to clean the glass or acrylic, so probably safe.

 

[mcpeachy]

i wish someone has seen both and knows if one is better! there are 6" versions that are imitations of the portal.

 

[rcpalmer1]

https://www.marinedepot.com/Innovat..._Viewing_Systems_(IVS)-IO00302-FIMIVW-vi.html
I have had this one over a year. I use it constantly. If it disappears you can be sure I would have a new one on the way.

 

[SandJ]

At RAP right now and seen the Flipper ones for the first time. I really like the look of them, and in about 6 weeks they are going to have a smaller size available for nano tanks. I believe the larger size is $35.

 

[touchstone88]

Found a lot of older threads with links to some items that have websites that no longer exist or the product no longer exists.

What is anyone using? I see the Deep See and the Innovative Systems portal. Also read about some people using cheap Harbor Freight stuff or something they randomly had. I want something that can be mounted and be hands-free like the first two I mentioned.

What's the latest and greatest in 2019?

It's not latest and greatest, but I use Bausch and Lomb Loupes, 1x, 5x, 7x
Place over a phone camera and voila:

 

[xxkenny90xx]

my kids would likely end up doing the same thing. i think its made to clean the glass or acrylic, so probably safe.

True the magnet part cleans the acrylic (although it's too small to be used for regular cleaning) but the plastic border around the magnifying glass is the part that I worry could do damage while they play with it.

 

[xxkenny90xx]

That being said I love the thing

 

[Bob Weigant]

I just saw the flipper last night for the first time and loved it

 

[mcpeachy]

i dont think i can just have a loupe for my kids to look through...they will scratch the glass, i'm sure!

 

[Ready4Launch]

Did you end up getting one?

Yes, I got the Flipper. The price is right, and my tank isn't that deep, so the magnification is pretty much good for everything that is front to middle. It is easy to move around, and I like the fact that I can rotate the magnifying lens around the magnet. This means that I move the magnet that much less, which in my current situation where I have a ton of snails that I don't want to disturb, this makes it easier but allows me to view more than one position. Make sense?