List the best accessories, tools, gadgets, etc. you use for your tank!

Los

New member
I've got a couple items that are indispensable in maintaining my tank that I always recommend to folks. I'm sure you do too, so let's start a list, but let's leave out the required items like skimmers, lights, etc. This is just for accessories, tools, and gadgets.

If you can, please include a link to the item along with the price.

1. Long turkey baster style feeding tube: $22 or so. I use this for all sorts of tasks. It is extendable up to 35", so I can suck stuff out of the bottom, target feed fish and corals, and even push small things around in the sand. This is definitely one of my favorite tools:

http://www.drsfostersmith.com/product/prod_display.cfm?c=3578+4430+13943&pcatid=13943

2. Shoulder length gloves (100 for $12) and over the shoulder gloves (50 for $19) from Enesco.com. Fairly often I need to quickly put my arm in the tank to move something around or grab something. If I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt and my hands aren't clean, it can become a bit of a ritual. These gloves are awesome, especially the over the shoulder gloves. It has a loop that goes over your head which holds the gloves all the way up your arms and over your shoulder.

Over the shoulder gloves: http://www.enasco.com/product/C27260(X)N?ref=rel_item
Shoulder length gloves: http://www.enasco.com/product/C06271N

3. Cyanoacrylate glue (crazy glue) by IC-Gel $7. This glue has the perfect consistency (and I've tried lots of them). It comes out of the tube very easily, but it keeps just the right consistency for attaching frags to whatever you like. I love it and wouldn't use anything else.

http://www.aquacave.com/ic-gel-insta-cure-cyanoacrelatebr-gel-20gr-1175.html

4. Long tweezers/prongs. There are two I really like: the 10" Specimen Forceps for $4.95 and the 10" Curved Tip Specimen Forceps for $4.95. Both of these are stainless steel and really handy:

http://www.aquacave.com/10--specimen-forcepsbr-stainless-steel-2032.html

http://www.aquacave.com/10-curved-tip-specimenbr-forceps-stainless-steel-2033.html

5. Specimen container. Dip and Pour - Large $7.50. I use this as an all purpose container while fragging, dipping new corals, mixing solutions, etc. It's handy and cheap
http://www.thatpetplace.com/pet/prod/217918/product.web

6. Heavy duty clippers to cut just about anything, but especially thick corals. These 7" Reef Precision Coral Clippers are about $25, but they are outstanding. BTW, I also have the 6.5" Heavy Duty version and I hardly use those at all. Go for the one linked below and enjoy happy cutting and fragging.

http://www.aquacave.com/7-reef-precision-coral-br-clippers-by-taam-2267.html

7. Graduated syringes. I use these for precisely measuring everything from AAs to the water I use in my vials when testing the water. They are a buck or two a piece and I get them from Susans35 on Ebay. I have everything from 1ml syringes to 60ml ones.

http://shop.ebay.com:80/susans35/m.html?_dmd=1&_ipg=50&_sop=15&_rdc=1

8. Eheim Sludge Extractor $60. This is a battery operated, fully submersible, vacuum that I absolutely LOVE. I use it to suck out the scum at the bottom of my frag tank, display tank, and sumps. It works really well and it captures really fine stuff. If this ever breaks, I'm going to rush out and buy another. They are that good.

http://www.marinedepot.com/Eheim_Sludge_Extractor_(Battery_Operated)_Battery_Operated_Siphons_Gravel_Cleaners-Eheim-EH3531-FIMTGSBO-vi.html

Please add your favorite items to the list.
 
$10 rio pump that i use to mix salt, blast target areas pump water out of my dehumidifier if it gets too full etc...
 
this for your mag float (for glass tanks only).

i havent stuck my hand in the tank to manually scrap tank ever again.

AF1311_99.jpg
 
Thanks Los on the gloves, I just ordered some shoulder length. 10 cents each, can't beat that.

My Tiger Shark glass cleaner is pretty good, but when I've got tough stuff, I use the simple Penn Plax magnetic razor blade. If I use the Tiger Shark magnet outside the glass, it makes a mean scraper on any tank. For $13, its pretty nice.

http://www.nextag.com/Penn-Plax-Magnet-Scraper-505779915/prices-html

My most used tool is the simple PVC tubing cut on a 45 degree angle on one end, good and long so I can poke anywhere. Once I have those gloves though, I won't worry so much about getting my arm wet.
 
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I like the shoulder length glove idea. Knew of their existence, but never thought of using them. Gotta order some!
 
Do those gloves fit somewhat snug? I bought those rubber coralife ones and they're made to fit a lumberjack and are impossible to work with!

One of the cheapest/most effective gadgets I've bought for my system was the American DJ Power Center. A lot of reefers use them; basically you can plug eight different items and independantly turn them on/off without having to unplug anything. GREAT investment for $30 w/ free S/H on Amazon! :)
 
You are very welcome on the glove suggestion. I also own the thick blue and orange rubber ones and they sit in the closet unused. The rubber is way too big and thick for delicate tasks, although for moving live rock they do have a place. The gloves linked above have VERY thin plastic, so while they are indeed quite large and can easily fit over a shirt or someone with big hands, as soon as you hand goes in the water, the water pressure pushes the plastic snug against your hands and arm. I really like them and I think you will too. Reaching your arm in the tank to move something small or to pick up something that fell in is a piece of cake. The only downside is that they are quite thin, so they can tear if you are using them for heavy duty use. If you can afford it, by a box each of the shoulder length and the over the shoulder ones (the ones that loop over your head). They are a bit different and the ones that loop over your head are a bit thicker, although still quite thin. For light tasks, I use the thin shoulder length gloves. For more work, I use the over the shoulders ones.

For latex gloves, my favorite brand - by far - is Microflex Diamond Grip S-11886 Large ($15 for 100). I've tried 4 different brands and these have the perfect balance of being thick enough to never tear and still leaving you with plenty of sensitivity. Note that these only cover your hand. They are a bit pricey, but if you're going to be handling a bunch of frags you'll appreciate the quality.

http://www.uline.com/BL_1017/?Pricode=WK664

Thanks for the algae scraper suggestions; I've been meaning to buy one.
 
Thanks for the link for the gloves!

My favorite gadgets:

Water alarm
This is just like a smoke alarm, it just has a little sensor you put down on the floor.

Battery backup air supply
This can save the fish in the event of a power failure. It runs for 2-3 hours giving you enough time to set up the generater if needed.
 
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