specialty tools…

[Magnum Man21 136]

they are out there, needed for every type of work, from automotive to aquariums… and they are often worth having, making your life easier… installing the big shades on my 3 season porch ( to better protect the aquarium that will be over wintering out there ) the hanger brackets are challenging to adjust the screws, particularly with the shade in place… I already switched out the phillips head screws for an all weather torx, after the 1st phillips started stripping while making adjustments… the widest shades are 10 feet wide, so proper adjustment is key for withstanding the weather… the bracket that includes the gearbox for raising and lowering is near impossible to properly tighten, so I had to order some specialty long thin torx drivers… having aquariums for so many years of my life, and having to live with tanks I built into walls 35 years ago, has required longer handles and specialty tools for working on some of them… one unsung hero, is my group of nets with expandable handles… sometimes the extra length is a bother, and sometimes it’s necessary… algae scrapers run the gambit of various magnetic ones, and long handled razor scrapers… my expandable hose , is something I love for filling my hard water tanks that are several rooms away from a water tap… when used with a heavy stainless “J” hook, with a ball valve on it, makes refilling a breeze, from my well water tap… and no “coiling” up of a stiff garden hose, it all shrinks up and goes into a 5 gallon bucket, when the water is shut off… the canister filter I made into a gravel vacuum, works great, and fits into a 5 gallon bucket for easy transport between tanks… and while most of my water change water is pumped out to a drain line, the gravel vacuum water goes into gallon jugs for the house plants…

what do you guys use for specialty tools to make your hobby easier???

 

[emeraldking 52]

The only special tool I have purchased is a 27cm long tweezers.
I also have two sizes of plastic hand sieves for catching small fish and shrimps. Does that count as well...?

 

[Magnum Man21 136]

yes, you are repurposing to make a chore easier…

 

[GaryE 135]

So so many...

In a raffle, I won some long tweezers and a stick that holds a blade for algae. Both have proven useful, as have long scissors from the same set.

Turkey basters aren't really for turkey basting. They squirt fry food, pick up mulm, catch snails, catch fry - wonderful tools.

My drill seems to be used in the fishroom more than anywhere else. The same for my chop saw. I like changing racks and trying to improve things. I generally fail, so I try again. It keeps me amused.

I have jewellers' glasses for looking at small things. Rechargeable flashlights, an infrared temperature gauge, a TDS/conductivity meter...

Fish catching nets for the tropics are very specific tools, to go with lightweight waders, breather bags and the tools of a fish collector.

I also have high tech poking sticks, plant starter baskets, rolls of rubberized garden wire, one sided razor blades, knives of various shapes for different fishroom tasks.

 

[Back in the fold 9]

There’s always something as the need arises . One thing I have now that I feel is indispensable is a brine shrimp sieve . It is much handier than a fine net . Well , maybe not “ much “ handier but it’s just easy to handle and clean .

 

[Jennet 58]

I have 35cm scissor tweezers I have repurposed from having to use to bait a 9' long carpet python with a rat if I didn't want him to hit my arm like a deadly missile. It is coming in useful to plant things in the aquarium. My reptile thermometers have also been repurposed. I also had a turkey baster, but the bulb had gone, so will have to get a new one.

 

[Magnum Man21 136]

I should probably mention the 10 inch by 12 in piece of tinted plexiglas I put over plants that like less light… the coffeefola is growing exceptionally well under a tint sheet ( the new leaves come out yellow, so there is a brand new leaf in this picture…

 

[bgarthe21 39]

Well…….I gotta few to mention.



1. The strainer screen is for grinding up food for my nano fish. I put some flakes in and grind into screen which is on top of a container to catch the ground up tiny flakes.

2. The ketchup squeeze bottle is for easily dispensing various additives to graduated cylinder or container for adding to tank. When I’m treating (say w Paraguard), I can easily and, wo mess, fill exact amounts wo pouring from big plastic jug.

3. The syringe w tubing piece attached is for gathering up tank water for testing and nicely filling API glass tubes wo overfilling and repeating. These are cheap to buy and can be used, one per tank, so as to not transmit disease from one tank to another. I also use these to measure/dispense meds evenly into the tank….no spills.

4. The zip ties are used for all kinds of things…..too many to mention.

5. The turkey baster is for my acclimation process when getting new bagged fish. It allows me to remove small amounts of bag water to discard and to add small amounts of tank water to bag. And yes…..it also does spot pick up of stuff on substrate.

6. My brass and/or stiff plastic brush has multiple purposes. It helps w getting algae off of tank decor, HOB tubes, and more.

7. My digital thermometer is used all the time for quick temp checks, water temp matching between containers, and tank temp confirmation.

8. The simple spoon helps me not overfeed the nano fish since my micro foods are SO easy to accidentally put too much of into tank. I’m surprised at how little food is needed for the rasboras, tetras, and dwarf barbs. With nano fish, a little food goes a …..long……way and overfeeding by mistake is very easy to do.

9. ******This may not qualify to the OP’s initial posting, but this helps me carry out all the WC maintenance.****** Installed fountain pumps in my large storage containers with hoses to pump out discarded water to yard or new water into tanks….(not pictured).