equipment misc.

[TheFighterFish]

I was wondering if you guys have any of the following equipment. If so, can you tell me your experiences and also where to find the stuff?

5 G bucket (for water changes)
-I have been suggested finding the rubbermaid brand. I saw a few at Petsmart too...

Tongs (for picking the stuff off tank without getting my hands wet)
-I saw it for $28 on bigal's. If the price is that rediculous, I'd rather just put my hand in the tank/siphon it up.

Scissors (for trimming my java moss, along with any future plants I decide to get
-I've been looking, but I can't seem to find any. I've seen it in pictures posted on the forum and in magazines.

Thanks

 

[Lotus]

I got my buckets at Lowes. They're plain white ones. They work well enough. I like to have two around, just in case I need a bucket to put plants or fish in temporarily. I think they were $3 or $4 each.

Tongs, I think I bought the ones that have a grabber and a scissor on them. It's the Tom Aquatic Gardener on Big Als: Tom Aquatic Gardener 27" Long at Big Al's Online

There's a short and long version (also sold at Foster & Smith). The grabber works fine for getting out leaves or dead fish, etc, but it's not really good for planting or picking up rocks. I have a really tall tank, and it has been useful.

I got scissors and tweezers (really useful) from Foster & Smith. The curved tweezers are awesome for planting carpet plants. The scissors on Foster & Smith work well, and are a good price: Fish : Planting Tools

 

[TheFighterFish]

Wow, thanks for all the great links Lotus .

 

[Igor The Cat]

dentist tool supplys are a good place to find high quality long utensils (though im kinda scared at what the dentist might be doing with the 36" forceps ive seen in th catalogs....lol

cheers

-Java

 

[Lonewolfblue]

Even though I use a Python, I do make use of 3 5G buckets which I got at Target. I don't use all at the same time, but have them on hand so if I need them. I use the bucket when pruning my tank, or if I need to do a fast PWC due to a problem. I use the bucket to remove the water, and the python to fill back up. But for regular PWC's, the bucket stays dry.

For the other tools, I only have a cheap pair of stainless scissors, which I rarely use. I'm not afraid of getting wet, I'd rather get wet than get a backache from trying to handle tools to try to work in the tank. Bare hands are best in my opinion. And for trimming plants, your fingernails are your best friend.

Oh, and I have a short pair of tweezers which I got for planting small carpet-type plants.

 

[Lotus]

For the other tools, I only have a cheap pair of stainless scissors, which I rarely use. I'm not afraid of getting wet, I'd rather get wet than get a backache from trying to handle tools to try to work in the tank. Bare hands are best in my opinion. And for trimming plants, your fingernails are your best friend.

I like the grabbers for when I'm not doing maintenance. I prefer to put my hands in the tank as little as possible when it's not water change/trim day. I always worry about contaminating the tank if I'm not properly scrubbed up for cleaning. I also have one tank that's on a tall stand and is a tall tank. There are places in the tank I can't reach at all without a step stool and putting my whole arm (up to the armpit) into the tank.

Scissors cause a lot less bruising on plants than fingernails, which helps prevent the cut ends from dying off. It helps a lot if you're replanting the tops, IMO.

 

[jaws]

needed items

Hey Dr. Forest(DRsFosterSmith.com) has Cora life Tongs that has attachments for either grabbing things or cutting. The large goes for only 8.99. Buckets you can get at either home depot or lowes.. The Tongs are prettty cool as you can reach almost anything without getting wet. Hope this helps