Guppysnail Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 (edited) My non-fish hubby only (comes in to fish room once a week to look at my giant snail) actually listens when I complain about different fish products and how they need to be improved. He built me this it just finished today 🥰😍 please share some things that make your aquarium life easier that you have made or someone has made for you. I’d love more ideas please. Edited July 29, 2021 by Guppysnail Change title 8 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. 9 3 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 29, 2021 Author Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 3:12 PM, JettsPapa said: It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. I need to make one. Awesome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taco Playz Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I use a plastic sandwich container when I am doing water changes to try to not disturb the substrate and it seems to work fine. Although I like @JettsPapa idea better. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mmiller2001 Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 I connect this to an Alexa device. "Alexa, water on/off". 6 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveO Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 2:12 PM, JettsPapa said: It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. I'm definitely going to steal this idea 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 My husband’s version of a disperser from my description of what I wanted. I don’t have it hooked to an Alexa or Google device, though. I siphon with my python imitator, but premix the refill water and fill with this. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Posted July 29, 2021 Share Posted July 29, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 3:12 PM, JettsPapa said: It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. Is this glass or plastic? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JettsPapa Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 3:30 PM, Jeff said: Is this glass or plastic? It's not glass, because I drilled the holes with a regular bit. Acrylic maybe? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 12:12 PM, JettsPapa said: It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. If I do fish dips I use a 2 cup glass pyrex measure for treatments. It will hang inside my quarantine tank and the outer tank water keeps the dip solution warm ( tank water/methblue/ salt ect ). then return the fish to the quarantine and dump the solution in the cup. The measure cup is only for dips. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trish Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 1:12 PM, Odd Duck said: My husband’s version of a disperser from my description of what I wanted. I don’t have it hooked to an Alexa or Google device, though. I siphon with my python imitator, but premix the refill water and fill with this. @Odd Duck What kind of a pump are you using please? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/29/2021 at 3:12 PM, JettsPapa said: It's not from someone else, but I drilled a bunch of holes in a measuring cup. I hang it on the side of the tank when adding water to disperse the flow so it doesn't disturb plants or substrate. Just ordered my cups for fry tanks. This was so awesome! Thank you again 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Not even going to try to take credit for this one, but my wife came up with a device so "expensive" that nearly everyone can afford it to keep aquarium soil from being disturbed when filling the tank with water (it also keeps me from using her prized little red colander in the aquarium😎). She simply slipped one of her smaller old nylon stockings over the bell of the Python water changer and tightened it with a rubber band. I thought it might slip once water rushes in but it works like a charm for over a year now at least once a week, better than any colander, tupperware tub,paper towels, or waxpaper, just a gentle trickle. Just thought I'd share. Edited July 30, 2021 by Jungle Fan 3 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Some more pictures of some of my most "high tech, expensive equipment" 😎 Pieces of plastic straws to keep tweezers and scissors from opening and getting caught either in the bag in which I store them, or in the tray I use when I do aquarium maintenance. An old plastic parks pass card, old credit cards for removing build up, or algae below the soil line on the glass. Old toothbrushes, and plastic forks to remove stone wool from plants before planting, and the brushes to clean all kinds of things. A hummingbird feeder port brush to clean the impeller wells of canister filters, or surface skimmers, and various smaller tube openings. Probably not too much new here but maybe for those who are new to the hobby themselves. PS: Just remembered one more, a $1 glass/ceramic stove top pumice stone with a green pad attached to clean the lime off aquarium lids while running it under the faucet, removes even those stains that seem to be etched in (some muscle grease required), the green pad works to clean algae, or lime off the plastic back strip, and the aforementioned hummingbird feeder port brush works wonders on the groove of the plastic strip. Edited July 30, 2021 by Jungle Fan 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guppysnail Posted July 30, 2021 Author Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/30/2021 at 1:44 PM, Jungle Fan said: Some more pictures of some of my most "high tech, expensive equipment" 😎 Pieces of plastic straws to keep tweezers and scissors from opening and getting caught either in the bag in which I store them, or in the tray I use when I do aquarium maintenance. An old plastic parks pass card, old credit cards for removing build up, or algae below the soil line on the glass. Old toothbrushes, and plastic forks to remove stone wool from plants before planting, and the brushes to clean all kinds of things. A hummingbird feeder port brush to clean the impeller wells of canister filters, or surface skimmers, and various smaller tube openings. Probably not too much new here but maybe for those who are new to the hobby themselves. I do most of the same but the straw thing I would have never thought of I love it thank you 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patrick_G Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 Judging by the DIY solutions I’m guessing most hobbyists would buy a commercial diffuser for filling tanks. @Cory? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Cory Posted July 30, 2021 Administrators Share Posted July 30, 2021 Most hobbyists don't even have a refiling system. When looking at data like this, you have to take into account the bias that already exists. The fact that the information is coming from a fish forum has already eliminated 99% of potential results. The hobby is wide and diverse, however many products are actually consumed by so few people. This would certainly be an addon to our water change system if we ever make one. However, the way in which it would hang, ease of removal, water pressure issues all lead to slightly different solutions based on application. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/30/2021 at 9:18 AM, Trish said: @Odd Duck What kind of a pump are you using please? @Trish I’m still using a very old Rio 3100HP powerhead. Probably 20 years old but not used for about 10 of those years. It’s so old I can’t get it apart anymore for proper cleaning. It’s getting a bit iffy on whether it will turn on or not so I bought a replacement recently. I put the new one on to use yesterday and it popped the hose right off. The nozzle is shorter and ever so slightly looser so I need to put a clamp on the hose. Thye new one is a Rio 17HF. It appears to have about the same pressure and flow while I hold the hose on. 🤦🏻♀️🤷🏻♀️ I switched back to the old one until I can put a clamp on the hose. 😆 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) Last night I cut the bottom off a buttermilk bottle to make a snail scraper. Works great for scraping and catching snails off the glass. (As you can see I am dealing with an MTS invasion.) Edited July 30, 2021 by Hobbit Forgot picture 😛 5 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torrey Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 On 7/30/2021 at 1:44 PM, Hobbit said: Last night I cut the bottom off a buttermilk bottle to make a snail scraper. Works great for scraping and catching snails off the glass. (As you can see I am dealing with an MTS invasion.) I wish I lived nearby, our LFS have not been able to get me any MTS and it's holding up the seasoning of my Walstad tank. 😅 However, they have had no problem getting in assassin snails, so I have a rather hungry clean up crew, lol 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jungle Fan Posted July 30, 2021 Share Posted July 30, 2021 (edited) @Torreymine came for free as tiny hitchhikers on plants for now they seem to just hang out in the area the Bolivian rams get fed with sinking pellets. I love what they do for the soil but if they get too numerous I'll have to go medieval on them. Edited July 31, 2021 by Jungle Fan 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 On 7/30/2021 at 6:36 PM, Torrey said: I wish I lived nearby, our LFS have not been able to get me any MTS and it's holding up the seasoning of my Walstad tank. 😅 However, they have had no problem getting in assassin snails, so I have a rather hungry clean up crew, lol You might consider chopstick snails. They’re related to MTS, are a slower reproducing species, but still stir the substrate for you. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobbit Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 @Torrey as soon as @Zenzo gives us the green light on trading, I’m trading everyone on this forum Malaysian trumpet snails for a high-five! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odd Duck Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 The backside of many toothbrushes have ridges that are designed to be a “tongue cleaner” but those ridges knock lime scale off plastic filter parts much better than you might think. You can see this one has had some hard use, but this is part of a 10 pack I got for about $11.00 online. These will last me a while. I’ve stopped buying used filters since they just don’t restart reliably. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Picklepuppy Posted July 31, 2021 Share Posted July 31, 2021 OMG! I never knew why toothbrushes have those ridges! Thank you! I use an air line to suction debris off the bottom of bare fry tanks. To make the line rigid and manageable, i feed it through a couple straws. 4 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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