Satisfying and Effective - share some random tips

[richardcunliffe]

I've got this blanket weedy like algae stuff that I introduced intentionally in a previous tank and therefore unintentionally to my current one. I'd been removing it from my weeping moss by lightly raking it with the tweezer tips. Tedious. I just tried a toothbrush and it was so marvelously effective and satisfying that I was moved to post about it.
Share some random maintenance tips!

 

[martinjcxn]

Strong neodymium magnets, glued to the end of a stick, make the perfect tool for picking up stray pieces of aqua soil from sand.


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[G H Nelson]

Use a dining fork 🍴to remove rock wool from potted emersed plants! 😉

 

[Bradders]

Never (ever) replace aquarium water with Gin in the search for crystal-clear water. They became very unruly - and somewhat abusive.

 

[OllieTY]

I've got this blanket weedy like algae stuff that I introduced intentionally in a previous tank and therefore unintentionally to my current one. I'd been removing it from my weeping moss by lightly raking it with the tweezer tips. Tedious. I just tried a toothbrush and it was so marvelously effective and satisfying that I was moved to post about it.
Share some random maintenance tips!

Use a dining fork 🍴to remove rock wool from potted emersed plants! 😉

Also, not sure if people knew this but I see many people trying to tease rockwool from plant roots with tweezers, forks etc. But a toothbrush will give a perfect result, effortlessly.

 

[Zeus.]

Electric toothbrush (Oral B) great for cleaning rocks etc. I had no issues fully submerging it. Just use wife's when she is out

 

[Bradders]

Also, not sure if people knew this but I see many people trying to tease rockwool from plant roots with tweezers, forks etc. But a toothbrush will give a perfect result, effortlessly.

That sounds like sage advice! I am going to try this this week.

 

[Cornelius]

If you are looking for an alternative for EpiWeb, Terratape or Hygrolon you can use sports tape.
Comes in all sorts of colours, various widths, is stretchable, self adhesive, and absorbs well. It's an ideal medium to grow mosses and epifytes on in a 'drystart'.

 

[tam]

Also, not sure if people knew this but I see many people trying to tease rockwool from plant roots with tweezers, forks etc. But a toothbrush will give a perfect result, effortlessly.

I usually pull the big chunks off with my fingers and swosh it about in some water in a jug/bowl 🙂

 

[Bradders]

It is not a great hack, but I'll be adding this one here today: Clean your inlet/outlet tubing more often than you think!

I have not cleaned my bio media sponge in my Oase for over a year. I checked it today, and it looked fine and dandy. However, I decided to clean my hoses (which were cleaned relatively recently), and it was gunk city! And I mean dark gunk!

I thoroughly cleaned 1 meter of hosing, and the water looks remarkably better! Even without changing the pre-filter!

 

[richardcunliffe]

Clean your inlet/outlet tubing more often than you think

This is not the type of tip I want to hear! 😛

Even if you're right...

 

[Malarky]

Use your water butt (if you have one) for water changes if you are in a hard water area, it's a game changer for growing a wider variety of plants, and of course change less water less often.

 

[Marcia]

To clean stubborn algae on glass, forget razors, forget magnet cleaners. Dennerle Cleanator is the best thing for an effortless job, one swipe and you’re done, sparkling clean glass. Wear gloves though as the fine wool is irritating to skin.

 

[Cazza]

Use ceramic plant weights to weigh down vegi foods (courgette, cucumber, cabbage, pepper etc) for catfish, shrimp, snails etc. Just poke it through the hole in the middle. Much better than a fork or corkscrew!

To reduce light on non-adjustable LED's, use 14mm file binder combs. They simply clip onto the light and can be cut to size with scissors. Much better than tape!

Use Hello Fresh insulation packaging for fine filter floss. Made from recycled PET (used to be wool) and is the perfect thickness... and it's free!

 

[nijat11]

Use turkey buster for cleaning your moss. It is much easier to catch fish during the night

 

[PARAGUAY]

Lots of claims about no water changes but IME 30 to 50% water changes at start of any type low energy high energy benefits the aquarium then regular weekly/ fortnightly if you can,, add fast growing stems at set up

 

[Gill]

Get yourself one of the cocktail trolleys from BnM, its a game changer. Load all the shelves with the bits and pieces you use most often for scaping and feeding maintenance etc.
I keep foods on the 1st Shelf, maintenance bits in 2nd etc etc. I can wheel it about the kitchen as needed and makes scaping so much easier with easy access to the bits i need.

 

[G H Nelson]

Thread 'Show us your Maintenance Cart!'

10 Mar 2023

Inspired by Balazs at Green Aqua from the below video!

I purchased one of these
Amazon product ASIN B0BN8D71LQTook me about 45 minutes to build.
I'm quite impressed by the quality which is all steel, tools are included which is great.
No missing parts and the packaging was excellent....no scuffs or scratches on the pieces.

Tips
I built this from the bottom up adding the handle last.
The castors are removable if you want to change them to a different configuration.
Just need to fill it up with junk now! 😉



hoggie

• G H Nelson
• Replies: 13
• Forum: Hardware & DIY

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[nijat11]

Forgot to add, MTS is your essential weapon against cynobacteria which occurs in anerobic areas of aquarium

 

[valevelo]

Get a 2.5ml syringe and half the test volume & no of drops for API ammonia & nitrate. Not even being tight, just means they run out more in line with pH & Nitrite