What unorthodoxed tools have you used?

nitroleviathan · Jun 30, 2015

Red solo cups for holding stuff and thawing

Fin · Jun 30, 2015

Harold Green said:
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.

May I ask where you found the 24" forceps??? I need those badly. My tank is 30" deep and 24" front to back. There are areas that I can't easily reach. I have a 10" pair of forceps, but would love some 24"! Can you provide a link, if you found them online?

Also, I once fashioned a very small hook out of a straight pin, threaded on a PE Mysis shrimp and went fishing in my overflow for a 4" Blue Sided Wrasse. Snagged him in no time and he showed no ill affects. Was eating immediately after being returned to the display.

Fin · Jun 30, 2015

One other tool that I use quite a bit. It is a length of rigid air line. I take some monofilament fishing line, double it up and fed it through the tube to make a loop at one end, while leaving a significant length of the line at the other end of the airline. I use it to retrieve frags that fall behind rocks or in places that I can't easily get to. Simply rope the frag with the loop and pull the extra line at the other end to close the loop. Works like a champ.

wreck · Jul 1, 2015

What is everyone using magic erasers on

Humblefish · Jul 1, 2015

I've used a (modified) coat hanger to get a brittle star out of a rock.

Harold Green · Jul 1, 2015

FoD said:
I'm going to begin to"invent" some tools. My new tank is 36" front to back. I have a 7' wingspan, and I don't even come close to the back.

Break out the scuba gear. A tank with that depth really needs to be accessible on all four sides otherwise maintenance can be really tough. My 24" deep tank is nearly impossible to service the overflows.

Harold Green · Jul 1, 2015

Fin said:
May I ask where you found the 24" forceps??? I need those badly. My tank is 30" deep and 24" front to back. There are areas that I can't easily reach. I have a 10" pair of forceps, but would love some 24"! Can you provide a link, if you found them online?

Also, I once fashioned a very small hook out of a straight pin, threaded on a PE Mysis shrimp and went fishing in my overflow for a 4" Blue Sided Wrasse. Snagged him in no time and he showed no ill affects. Was eating immediately after being returned to the display.

amazon, surgicalonline, $13 They aren't forceps but tweezers. Still have to get my hands wet in the 24" deep tank but I like the control they give better than the plastic aquarium grabbers. Make sure you get the stainless and wash them in fresh water after using.

retiredsailor · Jul 1, 2015

Keith_0011 said:
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.

Do you use it inside the tank?

Tanks said:
Those plastic needle point sheets I cut up and sew with fishing line to make shroom boxes for those that need to re-attach.

Can you provide a picture? I'm completely unable to picture this in my head.

dbl · Jul 1, 2015

I've never been able to get the conventional gravel/sand syphon vacuum's to work worth a darn. I rigged up a reducing adapter to the shop vac, attached a 3/4" tubing to it, and let's just say no more troubles getting something (red slime as an example) off the sand. Just have to do it at the time of a water change and be careful not to overfill the shop vac (not that I would know first hand!!!).

steve&mari · Jul 1, 2015

Like most I've used bunch of kitchen items also the battery outta my old pick up n a converter n charger when we lost power for few days years ago. Kept everything alive n happy till power was restored. The needle point mesh also works in sump baffles to keep stuff from getting into return chamber.

Ligershark · Jul 1, 2015

Keith_0011 said:
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.

buy them on eBay from china. 8 bucks for about 50 of them. been using them for over a year, safe as can be.

MrDJeep123 · Jul 1, 2015

I think it's safe to say we are a resourceful bunch.

Keith_0011 · Jul 1, 2015

retiredsailor said:
Do you use it inside the tank?

Can you provide a picture? I'm completely unable to picture this in my head.

Yes absolutely inside the tank. I just make sure that is the only place it goes.

wreck · Jul 1, 2015

Are the mr clean erasers safe?

Humblefish · Jul 1, 2015

wreck said:
Are the mr clean erasers safe?

Yes; so long as it's the original ones with no added chemicals.

glb · Jul 1, 2015

Velcro to secure cords and any other thing I can find to attach outside the tank. My skimmer pump is velcroed to the back of my tank. My ph monitor is attached to the stand with Velcro. So is a measuring cup I use for Kalk. Everything right where I need it. I love my Velcro.