Help! What turkey baster brand do you use??

[KirstenB]

So I had been feeding my clowns mysis in my 2 tank just easily using a syringe. Now that I have corals and a skunk shrimp I am needing to target feed and I would like to do so in my reefer 250 without putting my hands in the water daily. I tried a few turkey basters from Walmart but water pressure seems to keep pushing the mysis out before I do anything...albeit slowly. I also can't reach all the corals with this size. So then I bought a long turkey baster that I saw some Youtubers using. I purchased this...see attached. A LONG turkey baster. This was a fail as the mysis just FELL out.

So...need some links and assistance on AFFORDABLE long mysis feeding tubes if you guys would be so kind. My corals and I appreciate ya!

 

[Eagle_Steve]

I use this. The fact it is customizable and easy to clean makes it worth the 8 extra dollars over the normal long tubes you can find on amazon., for me at least lol.

https://www.amazon.com/Two-Little-F...feeding+tool&qid=1559216248&s=gateway&sr=8-24

This one is not bad, but you would have to trim the tip to get anything more then some reef roid mix or reef chili mix in it. It is also not to hard to clean, as the bulb slips off the acrylic tube.

https://www.amazon.com/coral-feeder...XPT87Q29DYV&psc=1&refRID=PMEW668REXPT87Q29DYV

 

[Jon Fishman]

That's pretty fancy.... I think I've seen that particular one referenced before. I personally like the bulb-squeeze types as they double as something that is easily used to quickly blow off rocks etc.

 

[KirstenB]

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00AFEER5U?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

 

[KirstenB]

That's the one I purchased.

 

[eggplantparrot]

if you can wait for shipping then this would be good.

https://m.banggood.com/Glass-Pipett...ber-Cap-for-Lab-p-1156126.html?rmmds=myorders

 

[KirstenB]

Ty! Have you used these particular ones with mysis?

 

[Peace River]

You may find some additional ideas in this recent R2R thread on target feeding. Good luck!

 

[Xam]

Hi! I had the same problem with keeping food in the baster, too, until I began: A) zip tying the bulb to the tube to make an air tight seal, and B) holding the baster perfectly vertical when it has food in it.

 

[PiscesPower]

A 60 ml or larger catheter tip syringe is good as you can keep back pressure on it. Easy to clean as well, as you can separate the pieces.

https://smile.amazon.com/60ml-Cathe...sprefix=catheter+t,aps,216&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

 

[Jon Fishman]

A 60 ml or larger catheter tip syringe is good as you can keep back pressure on it. Easy to clean as well, as you can separate the pieces.

https://smile.amazon.com/60ml-Catheter-Disposable-Syringe-Covers/dp/B01LWX4FEC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2MVHZS68DPV0C&keywords=catheter+tip+syringe+60cc&qid=1559220614&s=gateway&sprefix=catheter+t,aps,216&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1

I also use something similar..... but I "source" mine from work......

 

[PiscesPower]

I also use something similar..... but I "source" mine from work......

I may perhaps too at times, but not everyone has a 'source'. :rolleyes:

 

[KorD]

I don't use a turkey baster unless I'm blowing stuff off my rocks. To Target feed I use a syringe and a long piece of plastic tubing the fits over the edge of it. I put the plastic tubing in the oven at 100 degrees for 15 minutes. I then straighten into out until it was cool and held it's form the way I liked it.
This allows me to 1) have the length I want 2) suck up and control the flow I want the Mysis to come out 3) not spend any money because I had everything to begain with.

 

[Jon Fishman]

I don't use a turkey baster unless I'm blowing stuff off my rocks. To Target feed I use a syringe and a long piece of plastic tubing the fits over the edge of it. I put the plastic tubing in the oven at 100 degrees for 15 minutes. I then straighten into out until it was cool and held it's form the way I liked it.
This allows me to 1) have the length I want 2) suck up and control the flow I want the Mysis to come out 3) not spend any money because I had everything to begain with.

Some of you guys are going to fairly elaborate lengths to not get your hands wet, or having a little waste when target feeding.

 

[KorD]

Some of you guys are going to fairly elaborate lengths to not get your hands wet, or having a little waste when target feeding.

I try not to get my hands wet, because every time I put my hand in the fish tank my maroon clownfish tries to eat me. She drew blood last time I was scrapping algea

 

[Jon Fishman]

I try not to get my hands wet, because every time I put my hand in the fish tank my maroon clownfish tries to eat me. She drew blood last time I was scrapping algea

My clowns leave me alone. My Sharpnose has nipped a few times!!! I guess I understand that!

 

[KirstenB]

The syringe works great I just need it longer fo sho. I have read that your reef tank does better if you keep your hands out as whatever is on our hands at the time causes stress. I'm intrigued by the long thin glass tubes. I am not as creative as you guys with the zip ties and baking the tubing...etc. Just hmmmmm...

I am lucky with my clowns. I've had the nippers before but this pair just loves me thank goodness. Cuz clown nips hurt lol!!

 

[BeejReef]

If you have a "Tractor Supply" or "Feed Store" near you (I live in Amish Country), they have all sorts of unusually large and kinda scary syringes with fairly large diameter openings. Those poor cows ;Yuck

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...e-60cc-syringe-with-catheter-tip?cm_vc=-10005

 

[eggplantparrot]

Ty! Have you used these particular ones with mysis?

actually they had to send me 3 as they didn't use a protective tube and 2 ended up broken in the mail. the third one I ended up breaking it myself... I did manage to salvage one short piece and yes the end does fit mysis however, because of the physics involved any long tube like this will have enough liquid to want to come out the pipette when you move too quick. holding the pipette at an angle after sucking up the food and moving slowly and smoothly will help keep it in the pipette

 

[Xam]

I am not as creative as you guys with the zip ties and baking the tubing...etc. Just hmmmmm...

Yeah it sounds a little crazy, but you have to be a bit creative with this hobby to ensure you don't loose your marbles... that seems to be the fun part to most. I think I read somewhere on this site that Reefing is like putting together a massive, never-ending jigsaw puzzle where most of the pieces don't fit initially, so you have to cut this bit off here, and round this corner off there to make it work.

With that said, I'm just trying to solve your initial problem of losing your food before you can get it to your pets. Air gets in and it breaks the syphon, thus dumping the goodies out. Try with plain water, suck the water up and hold it straight up and down, it should hold until you tilt it. If you see air bubbles pulled in from the tip, you know you have air entering where the bulb connects to the tube. Tape would work too... you just need an air-tight seal there.

My main goal is to help you not spend more money on stuff that may require the same techniques.