What's Your Most Useful Non-aquarium Tool (for Aquarium Use)?

[GlennO]

On a 50% water change yes

Heh..I picture him with a mask and long snorkel and algae scrubbing pad. Better make use of him before he grows too big.

 

[andy305mia]

back scratcher for moving substrate around

 

[andy305mia]

plastic pasta strainer modified for adding water

 

[Mandy627]

Yarn for breeding mops! Killifish love them and it makes a jungle gym for water frogs.

 

[angelcraze]

View attachment 660727
My best tool is my son great for sticking in the tank and moving rocks and plants around as the tank is 3ft high reaching anything below halfway down is near impossible

Wow just had to say that is a niiiiiiiice tank!

 

[Littlebudda]

Thanks the one that replaced was 6inchs higher and was amazing until it exploded

 

[angelcraze]

Thanks the one that replaced was 6inchs higher and was amazing until it exploded

Did you build it? I don't mean to hijack, just it looks custom. What volume is it? What do you plan to stock?

 

[Littlebudda]

Yeah it’s custom I had my lfs has a tank builder it’s around 300gal.
Currently has 2 oscars, 2 blood parrots, 1 severum, 2 silver Dollars, a pair of convicts are currently in the 16gal till they are big enough to not be Oscar snacks

 

[pagoda]

Along with my spaghettI spoon for moss ball retrieval I also use a plastic soap dish (new obviously) as a feeding bow for the Axolotl that will be arriving in the coming week - its deep enough to keep food under control and its ribbed on the bottom so the critter will be able to maintain its footing whilst eating

 

[KingJamal2]

Disposable Pipettes that you would find in a high school science classroom. I use them to dose prime.

I also use 5 gallon buckets.

 

[plecodragon]

3 foot long hard wood stakes, for reaching far down in tall tanks and for planting plants. No wet hands. Nytrel gloves to keep hands clean and dry.

 

[sto0ka]

2l cocktail bowls

 

[ProudPapa]

To avoid disturbing the substrate I've been using an old ceramic cereal bowl placed in the bottom of my tanks to pour into doing water changes, but I came up with something better. I bought a plastic measuring cup and drilled 57 small holes in the sides (yes, I counted them; that's how my poor little brain works), then I hang it on the side of the tank and pour into it. Works good, and I don't have to reach to the bottom of the tank to get it out like I did with the bowl.

 

[CaptAndrews]

I also use a humble toothbrush as a combination scrubber/poking stick/gravel rake/to catch loose debris/hook for picking up decor. Darn thing is SO useful!

 

[mattgirl]

To avoid disturbing the substrate I've been using an old ceramic cereal bowl placed in the bottom of my tanks to pour into doing water changes, but I came up with something better. I bought a plastic measuring cup and drilled 57 small holes in the sides (yes, I counted them; that's how my poor little brain works), then I hang it on the side of the tank and pour into it. Works good, and I don't have to reach to the bottom of the tank to get it out like I did with the bowl.

Pure genious !!!!!! and I know what you mean about actually counting the number of holes

 

[faydout]

That is genius. I use a 99 cent store bowl that we used for halloween candy. I have to wedge it down (it wants to float upside down) with my net against the glass, but it works and lets me pour at full strength without messing with my sand.

 

[kallililly1973]

I got my idea for refilling my smaller tanks from scarface i got a small colander with a handle on one end and a lil hook the handle rests on my light when I put it sideways on the tank and the hooks rests on the rim of the tank perfect . Thought I had a better pic on it my 5.5 I can show a better one if interested but that’s the basic idea. In one pic it’s on my 29 I had outside which it also reaches front to back on 12” tanks and the other pic is my arsenal for 5.5 tank maintenance. Not sure how many holes in it it came predrilled but I will count them if anyone is interested as well

 

[Frisbee]

Pantyhose. I make media bags and intake covers with them.

I also love those LED shop lights from Home Depot. They make amazing planted tank lights for way cheap.

 

[qldmick]

had to come up with this after two crayfish crawled out where i didn't realize their was a gap. camping foam mattress to block the gap and a washer to hold the lid up when needed as it no longer stays open by itself. buy the way i lost one of those crays, the only male, but his replacement has just arrived.

 

[Sorg67]

Kitchen thermometer

 

[Frisbee]

Kitchen thermometer

Oh yes! Forgot to mention that, I use those all the time.

 

[babykitten]

What's the most useful tool you use in your day to day (or weeks or months) aquarium-ing that's not an aquarium tool or equipment?
Could be for home hobbyist, casual or professional breeders, fresh or salt.
Not really asking about diy solutions, although those are welcome, but more things you get off the shelf, from the non-aquarium part of your shopping routine.

For me, it's this thing:
View attachment 531438
Reusable Keurig-style coffee pod. I previously raised some ADF from eggs, and am currently working on Amano shrimp breeding, all as a wee basement project. This filters are great for straining tiny larvae out of cups, jars, water changes, etc, without using a net, and are super gentle on them.

Also 2-3 litre jars from Ikea, in a water bath, for multiple small tanks.
View attachment 531439

I use pipettes and used to use toothbrushes. I use the pipettes to measure prime, liquid ferts, and water for testing vials. I used to use toothbrushes (new and never used of course) to remove algae from my little ten gallon. Then I got aa actual brush when I got more tanks.

 

[babykitten]

Kitchen thermometer

Oh I also use those! Mine broke a couple weeks ago so now I'm back to using aquarium thermometers.

 

[qldmick]

i use the tooth brushed to clean the impeller and around where it sits.

 

[phnx314]

• Plastic cups, from anything. I have this one QT (quick trip, not quarantine) cup that I use for EVERYTHING... water changes, feeding frozen foods, acclimating small fish, adding chemicals, you name it, that cup has probably done it before.
• Cat litter buckets. Tons and tons of cat little buckets.
• Glass jars, usually to propagate plants to later be added into the tank
• Plastic hooks, for hanging nets.
• Terracotta pots are definitely one.
• A desk lamp for my betta tank light
• Goodwill dishes for aquarium decor. I also use these for plants
• Cuttlebone for my snails

That’s all I can think of for now, but there’s probably more

 

[86 ssinit]

Something new that I’ve been using is these plastic lids.They are the covers for green dust. Which is a construction product to sweep floors. Now these covers are 12” round and have a 1” lip. So putting anything you remove from the tank onto one of these keeps water from falling. Also make good bases for indoor plants .so if you know anyone in the construction trades ask them to pick you up a few. On the job these are thrown away.

 

[Sauceboat]

Aside from the many main ones (buckets, jars, plastic cups etc) I use plastic cavnas for just about everything, diffusing water when refilling the tank, emergency dividers, light defusers/temporary tank lids, moss mats, growing plant/moss backgrounds. I always have a sleeve of them around the house for use. I also really love having an electric sander for filing down driftwood and glass since I make a load of mini builds by hand.

 

[CHJ]

Litter scoop.

 

[Yehoshua]

Credit cards for cleaning inside glass. Corkscrew bottle opener for weighing down cucumbers.

 

[86 ssinit]

Even when filled?!

Scuba suit?

 

[Fishfriendof315]

View attachment 531535 I use boot trays for my back ground keeps splashes and drips in tank here are same boot tray two different times. View attachment 531532

That is a gorgeous set up! I just have some vine cutting hanging out the top
Pill bottletwo different size holes in top. Snail trap for feeding my puffer

 

[Biz]

I use one of those kids small ml plastic syringe. Works well for getting frozen food and for slurping up prime out of the bottle instead of useing a cap.

I also use the syringe to fill my API test tubes, so simple and so fast

 

[ghostdawg]

5 gallon buckets...

 

[bcfishtanks]

Turkey baster to get out things the siphon missed or to use between water changes.

 

[ProudPapa]

5 gallon buckets...

I prefer my 2.5 gallon bucket. I'm old.

 

[Lucy]

I prefer my 2.5 gallon bucket. I'm old.

Before my python I put my 5g bucket on a skateboard and pulled it with a rope
Because......Old as well.

 

[ghostdawg]

I prefer my 2.5 gallon bucket. I'm old.

Well, I do have 3 teenage grandsons who do the heavy lifting...

 

[Coppergold]

View attachment 531348

Straws! lol use it in all my tanks, I use them as feeding rings and also my bettas love building bubbles nest in it.

Great idea! Meant to get some tubing and connector today while running a bunch of errands but came home empty handed bc it slipped my mind (oops). Problem solved

 

[Fisch]

An extended automotive screw pick up tool. I use it to place food into s specific area of the tank, grab pest snails, pick up the snail trap. All without putting my hands into the tank and scaring the living daylight out of the fish. Wish it would be plastic or stainless steel.

 

[ProudPapa]

Well, I do have 3 teenage grandsons who do the heavy lifting...

Mine is 3, so he won't be much help for a while.

 

[Mike999]

I have a lifetime supply of double edged razor blades.
Note: I was apparently bored one year of my life and ordered a couple thousand different brands for my double edge razor.

I use them for scraping off my coralline algae. Yes, I actually that have circular rusty red algae all over my 2 freshwater aquarium walls and ornaments.
------------
They are very sharp, but I'm pretty adept at pinching them in the middle and then scraping the algae off the glass walls. Have to be careful but boy are they useful.

 

[EmberTetraPerson]

I use chopsticks to rearrange plants and small decorations. The shrimp also love sitting on it when I stick it in there to move something over

 

[Tetraman124]

Om

Toothbrush!!!

definetily This is a almost daily thing

 

[sairving]

A toothbrush for cleaning. Several plastic containers in various sizes for putting plant leaves during trimming or wet sponges/scrubbers. And my most useful tool, an empty gallon size milk container. I use them to refill my 5 gallon tank after a water change.

 

[Msdp11009]

Mr clean eraser for wiping algae off anubias. So gentle and easy and effective

 

[Coppergold]

I use a toothpick when feeding my fish

 

[BigManAquatics]

Syringes and turkey basters i find very handy. Also like things like toolbox/drawer organizer trays to keep supplies and food easy to find and grab.

 

[Aysu]

A cat litter scoop's holder modified to help with water changes. Never used it for the cat boxes, but we drilled some holes in the sides and slapped some cheap bent metal hooks on there to hook it over the edge of the tank. It's easy to place, easy to remove, and it keeps my plants, gravel, and fish from being blown around when I add water!

Other notable mentions are an old credit card for scraping algae, a cheap toothbrush, and "volunteered" family members.

 

[Frisbee]

I don’t have a most useful non-aquarium tool, but I do have a least useful. This creature steals filter sponges and runs off and hides under the bed with them. The other day I found a pile of soggy Polly-fill under my bed... now I wonder how that got there.

 

[sairving]

I don’t have a most useful non-aquarium tool, but I do have a least useful. This creature steals filter sponges and runs off and hides under the bed with them. The other day I found a pile of soggy Polly-fill under my bed... now I wonder how that got there.

Kitty is just trying "help" lol