Aquatic contraptions: Do you have any unusual tools in or around your aquarium?

[Peace River]

Aquatic contraptions: Do you have any unusual tools in or around your aquarium?

Some people buy every gadget and tool that is advertised for reefing, however other people look for everyday items, items that they already have, or other items that can be repurposed to use with their reef. Some fish rooms look like many of the supporting tools and containers came from a kitchen store rather than a fish store. Whether it is PVC fitting to use in your quarantine tank, kitchen strainers to use for coral dipping, something from a 3D printer, or some other more creative option, do you use any unusual tools in or around your aquarium? Please let us know and share pictures of your creative use of repurposed items in and around your tank.

Pro Tip: Whenever placing anything in your tank, it is important to know if it is reef safe. Some items are clearly metal and other less-obvious items can leach metals and other undesirable additives into your tank. Be creative while managing your risks!

Photo by @Mall1124


This QOTD is sponsored by: www.dinkinsaquaticgardens.com

"Our mission is to help save the reefs by providing the highest quality live reef foods for every aquarium - from small biocubes to mid-sized reef aquariums, to giant aquaculture facilities"

 

[shakacuz]

made myself a drip acclimator as well as a sump "python" hose attached to a small sicce micro pump to clean out the sump.

 

[vetteguy53081]

For me:
3 sizes of Tongs
Tukey baster
Step ladder

 

[kenchilada]

I have a toilet seat I use as a nori clip for my big tank.

 

[Sump Crab]

I like to use an old net as a multi purpose reef tool. Some of its uses are moving things in the tank, poking stuff, mixing floating food into the water column, scaring shrimp/crabs away from corals Im feeding, just about anything I can think of.

 

[X-37B]

DIY air driven skimmer on my 20g.
Now im dating myself.

 

[o2manyfish]

I think one of the tools that I get the most use out of for my reef, which I think many people have but don't use is my Pressure washer. Filtersocks, Pumps, Frag Racks, Live Rock, Skimmer - You name it, if it needs to be cleaned a pressure washer can help make that maintenance task much more efficient and better.

Pumps sit in citric acid and then get a blast from the pressure washer and BAM - They sparkle.

All those nooks and crannies in the skimmer that you can never scrub into - - BOOM - They are clean

Frag racks covered in coraline and other living material - Whoosh - And away it goes

When I let my tank sit for 9 months unattended in the dark a brown fuzz algae covered all the rock - Pressure washer while the rock was still in place in the tank. Wet Dry Vav and the tank was up and running and getting corals added to it within a week.

After a horrible crash in March 22, we had a literal 1000 lbs of rock covered in dead and decaying tissue. At the time we were at such a loss that alot of it was pulled and left sitting in the sun for the tissue to bake onto it (zoas, corals, xenia, clavularia, gsp, mushrooms). We did a citric acid bath on the rock and the out came the pressure washer and rinsed the rock off so it looked like brand new dry rock - Rock that was over 25 years old - bright white.

Dave B

 

[Mical]

Rubber tipped grill tongs from Amazon

 

[elysics]

Silicone hose slightly bent and glued to a long stick at one end with a big syringe at the other end.

Don't need to get my hands wet when precision feeding something or blasting clean cavities or space inside corals

 

[KrisReef]

I found the perfect dipping or acclimation bucket from IKEA, and I repurposed a mini blind rod for an upside down snail flipper

I don’t know what the IKEA thingy was originally for, it was washed up on the beach and my coworkers knew I am completely crazy when they watched me drag it home.

Blind rod is fairly self explanatory, keeps my hands out of the tank when something needs a nudge

 

[Woodyman]

I found the perfect dipping or acclimation bucket from IKEA, and I repurposed a mini blind rod for an upside down snail flipper

I don’t know what the IKEA thingy was originally for, it was washed up on the beach and my coworkers knew I am completely crazy when they watched me drag it home.

Blind rod is fairly self explanatory, keeps my hands out of the tank when something needs a nudge

Color isn't the same, but otherwise similar to these.

TROFAST storage box, white, 16 ½x11 ¾x4" - IKEA

TROFAST storage box, white, 16 ½x11 ¾x4" This shallow, white box is perfect for storing chalks, building blocks and puzzles. Made of durable plastic and fits in TROFAST frames, but can also be stacked on the floor if you complete with a lid. Fits in TROFAST frames.

www.ikea.com

 

[KrisReef]

Color isn't the same, but otherwise similar to these.

TROFAST storage box, white, 16 ½x11 ¾x4" - IKEA

TROFAST storage box, white, 16 ½x11 ¾x4" This shallow, white box is perfect for storing chalks, building blocks and puzzles. Made of durable plastic and fits in TROFAST frames, but can also be stacked on the floor if you complete with a lid. Fits in TROFAST frames.

www.ikea.com

Mine had these curious holes on either end that leak water if I fill it completely. Here’s another picture of the container

Is it the same?

 

[Woodyman]

Mine had these curious holes on either end that leak water if I fill it completely. Here’s another picture of the container

Is it the same?

Probably redesigned at some point.l, and you have an older variation. Possibly under a different naming scheme.

The 3D view from the link I posted doesn't appear to have slits in the bottom, but it's also a render not a true 3D view of the actual product.

 

[trevorhiller]

Not DIY per say, however, I don't hear people mention these much.

Rongeurs work good for picking off little vermetid snails, snapping sps and scraping stuff off rocks.

I also use one of those fiberglass driveway reflector poles (reflector removed) as a long stick for poking/moving small stuff.

 

[330Bob]

Aquatic contraptions: Do you have any unusual tools in or around your aquarium?

Yea I have a few
- Channel Lock Oil wrench for PVC fittings
- Suction cup soap tray for feeding puffer clams
- Ezpik extra long tweezers for deep tanks (mine is 44" deep)

My puffer is a picky eater. Put a soap tray up at top of tank as he often will not chase food 43 inches to the bottom of my tall tank.
He likes the tray so much he now sleeps in the tray, its his bed.

Food clips drop to bottom of tank and not so easy to reach the grabber comes in handy for that.

Oil wrench is perfect for large 1 to 2" PVC fittings.

 

[TinnysReef]

Laparoscopic graspers and scissors for reaching the bottom and keeping my hands/arms dry

 

[EugeneVan]

I have a toilet seat I use as a nori clip for my big tank.

Pictures please

 

[Js.Aqua.Project]

I've designed and 3D printed some components like filter cups, light shrouds, AFS holder, etc...for my 240.

 

[ReefStash]

I duct taped a magnetic algae scraper to a pole algae scraper for cleaning my back glass… lol

 

[RichReef]

Best cleaning tool I've ever had. Get three. You won't regret it. You'll see. Buy one for tank, car, and under your kitchen sink.

Makes cleaning pumps easy.