Why a “Poking Stick” is an Essential Piece of the Reefkeeper’s Toolbox.

[nautical_nathaniel]

Where’s the best place to get one of the LFS model acrylic poking rods?

Bulk Reef Supply has them!

https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/acry...MIu8Hp9Pbq2gIVBaZpCh1x2gzVEAQYASABEgLU1_D_BwE

 

[Reef Creeper]

I’ve been using this acrylic rod for a couple years now. Picked it up at BRS with my reward points. I use it almost everyday. Mostly to chase my cleaner shrimp away when feeding corals.

 

[Gahngoo]

Home Depot sells fiberglass snow plow whips for a few bucks. My most used tool.

...not in Florida.

 

[Gahngoo]

I've been using wooden dowels for years. I run one end through a pencil sharpener. Then it's really a "multi purpose" tool then.

 

[Swoody]

My “Poking Sticks” ..... a Mexican Turbo Snails best friend!!!!

 

[PiscesPower]

Chopsticks and a piece of rigid acrylic tubing for me, and of course the obligatory turkey baster that can do a multitude of things.

 

[Bunnee911]

I have a poking stick with a sewing machine needle embedded in the end when the asterina get out of hand.

 

[mgreenough]

This was mine for a couple of years, good for spearing pests

 

[mike werner]

It snowed here in Florida once. I remember the blizzard of 86 !
Hey I'm cheap ! when I see someone throwing away blinds. I stop to see if the rods are still there.

I stole the one off the bathroom blinds.still waiting to hear "Michael"shouted by my wife from the bathroom.i'll just shout back "didn't do it"

 

[najer]

As above, bamboo kebab skewers and acrylic rod left over from scape modelling a few years back, got to love a good poker.

 

[Dsnakes]

Awesome write up!

My poking stick is a length of hollow rigid air line tubing. It doubles as a retrieving tool. I run a loop of monofilament fishing line through the length of the tube, leaving a loop at one end and enough of the line to pull out and cinch the end with the loop. I could retrieve a fallen frag at the bottom of a 29" deep tank with minimal contact with the water. Very handy.

That is genius! Thanks for sharing.

Great write up @nautical_nathaniel I’m going to have to retire my rusting 10” tweezers. I even have a couple packs of chopsticks that have been waiting for their purpose in life...reefing!

 

[Paul B]

I also have always used a poking stick and I also have a wooden one with a bent needle at the end. I use it for all sorts of things including pushing a piece of clam under my long spined urchin as those spines are so long, there is no other way to get past the spines.
I also have a "few" of these that I can poke or suck things out with.

 

[jd371]

My poker is a metal Kebab skewer, to pick up things I use 15" tweezers, and I have turkey baster and long dropper like the one pictured in Paul's post for feeding, sucking or blowing in the tank.

 

[OriginalUserName]

For some reason I'm reminded of this.

 

[Daniel@R2R]

Haha!! I love this article!! I actually have a few different poking devices for different purposes, but mostly I use my neon green acrylic rod.

Awesome write up!

My poking stick is a length of hollow rigid air line tubing. It doubles as a retrieving tool. I run a loop of monofilament fishing line through the length of the tube, leaving a loop at one end and enough of the line to pull out and cinch the end with the loop. I could retrieve a fallen frag at the bottom of a 29" deep tank with minimal contact with the water. Very handy.

LOLOL!! This is a high-tech poking/grabbing stick for sure!

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Hands down the best tool for any reefer. Both for poking and grabbing things.

 

[Macdaddynick1]

Double post

 

[Gahngoo]

Awesome write up!

My poking stick is a length of hollow rigid air line tubing. It doubles as a retrieving tool. I run a loop of monofilament fishing line through the length of the tube, leaving a loop at one end and enough of the line to pull out and cinch the end with the loop. I could retrieve a fallen frag at the bottom of a 29" deep tank with minimal contact with the water. Very handy.

This is awesome! Very nice!

 

[lzrlvr]

I agree a poking stick is a valuable tool

 

[SFKINNC]

Pokey is great, but pokey, brushy, grabby is awesome!