What unorthodoxed tools have you used?

MrDJeep123 · Jun 27, 2015

I have used kitchen tongues to move urchins out of the way.
The wife's measuring cups, she's always happy when that happens.
A fork to remove frags from plugs.
A funnel taped to a PVC pipe to put in sand.

What about you? What have you used?

saltyphish · Jun 28, 2015

I cut a gallon milk jug in half to make a funnel to refill my salt container. I like my kent 50g salt container but buy my salt in the bags

hig789 · Jun 28, 2015

I recently got chewed on for using my wife's Pyrex measuring cup to treat my Zoas with Furan-2.

NanaReefer · Jun 28, 2015

Window shade rod (the piece that opens/closes them) with a razor blade glued to the end to reach hard to get at spots.

Daytonareefing · Jun 28, 2015

Wow that could be a long list. LOL

dave171 · Jun 28, 2015

Toothbrush was big before I got my mag float lol. Also have used all kitchen utensils and measuring cups!

clee36 · Jun 29, 2015

spatulas to mix water, shot glasses to thaw food, wooden skewers to poke/move stuff.
wife got mad. i had to buy all new kitchen stuff for her.

Keith_0011 · Jun 29, 2015

Magic Eraser! Works wonders on glass as long as there is nothing that will cut it up. Rinse when done using. Throw away when it starts to look ratty.
Get the "extra power" ones. They work better IMO.

*Make sure to stay away from any that have soap or additives.

Tanks · Jun 29, 2015

Chop sticks with glued on scrubber at fat end. Those plastic needle point sheets I cut up and sew with fishing line to make shroom boxes for those that need to re-attach.

melypr1985 · Jun 29, 2015

I use shot glasses to thaw food also.... turkey baster and measuring cups/spoons also. The plastic needlepoint sheets are genius, I may steal that!

captainsmitty · Jun 29, 2015

put a sewing needle in the end of a chopstick for spot feeding

ilovereefing <3 · Jun 29, 2015

Hmmm...most of my kitchen stuff at some point or another (much to my husband's dismay)! Yep, I am a female reefer with a husband who is jealous of my "tank time"! Lol! And don't ever let him find out how much money I have actually spent...LOL!

bumperbeetle · Jun 29, 2015

I cut the bottom out of a water bottle to spot feed my polyps.

Gamma · Jun 29, 2015

Tanks said:
Chop sticks with glued on scrubber at fat end. Those plastic needle point sheets I cut up and sew with fishing line to make shroom boxes for those that need to re-attach.

I like the shroom box idea alot...

satan star · Jun 30, 2015

My skimmer is resting on a sheet of egg crate with two perfectly sized plastic cereal bowles under it. Brings it to that perfect skimming height

Downbeach · Jun 30, 2015

satan star said:
My skimmer is resting on a sheet of egg crate with two perfectly sized plastic cereal bowles under it. Brings it to that perfect skimming height

Are the bowls upside down? If so, the stagnant water inside them may develop hydrogen sulfide. If you can cut some holes in them to provide for a little flow would be helpful.

Ziplock bags are handy for adding small amounts of substrate. I also use the Glad disposable containers for quarantining Wrasses that need to have a sand bed, and transferring them after QT. As others have mentioned, bamboo skewers for feeding anemone, eels, etc., turkey basters, measuring cups, etc. Although I don't use the ones from the kitchen...that is to say, I replaced the ones I took from the kitchen.

satan star · Jun 30, 2015

Yeah a local fish store owner advised me to drill holes in the one that is upside down. Luckily i fixed it before it created any issues

Harold Green · Jun 30, 2015

Just bought a 24" pair of tweezers. Much easier to pick up and hold small frags than using the plastic aquarium tools that are high dollar. Better pressure control to keep from mashing frags. I have a small kitchen brush that's narrow enough to fit inside my skimmer for cleaning. I have several half gallon plastic pitchers that work well for moving water. Plastic half gallon ice cream container for holding frags for glue up to plugs. Lastly, every time I go shopping I always look at the kitchen gadgets in the store for anything that might be useful in reefing.

Ddavis · Jun 30, 2015

I also have a long list. Pyrex measuring cup, I use straight razor blades for lots of stuff and have even attached them to pvc to make long handled scrapers for my 220 (thanks ToddSails). I use those cheap paring knives for lots of things and like many of you I use magic erasers.