I was looking at my aquariums just now and realized I have a ton of stuff that directly has nothing to do with reef-keeping, but I wouldn't live without it. In looking around on this forum, I haven't found a thread on cheap stuff that makes taking care of our glass boxes a little easier. Here's my little contribution to all you beginning reefers. Most of this stuff can be found locally for less than $10.

1. Turkey Baster.
Use this to blow gunk off of corals, stir thing up during a water change etc.


2. Syringe
Great for dosing small amounts of supplements and spot feeding corals


3. Shot Glass
Defrost frozen food in tank water, marinate mysis in vitamins


4. Long Tweezers
Pick stuff out of those hard-to-reach places, pluck algae, flip over snails


5. Zip Ties
Use for everything. Greatest product since sliced bread.


6. Super Glue Gel
Attach corals to rock or frag plugs, cures underwater and is non-toxic. Buy the multi-pack of the cheap stuff from the Depot or Lowes


7. Tooth Brush
Clean everything with it... you can get a bunch at any dollar store.


8. Spring Clamps
Hold hoses to tank lips during a water change, clip bags to the edge while acclimating, use your imagination, they're under a $1 at any hardware store.


9. Garbage Cans
Water changes, mixing, storing etc...


10. Razor Blades
Scrape coralline off of glass, frag shrooms, cut fingers.. best scraper made. WARNING: NOT FOR USE ON ACRYLIC TANKS!


11. Magnifying Glass
for looking at stuff... I got this same one at Radio Shack for around $4


12. Mini-Microscope
for looking at really small stuff... Also at Radio Shack for about $4


13. Egg-Crate
the Lego Building Block of the aquarium industry. Use your imagination. You can find this stuff in the lighting section of hardware stores.


I'm sure I'm missing a few things, so veteran reefers, please add to this list. All of these have been staples for me for years now. I wouldn't own an aquarium without them.

A jug with an open handle so you can hang it over the edge of your tank - ideal for when acclimitising to allow temp acclimitisation too.



EDIT - See:

Sweet thread, thanks!

Definately going to get some clamps for water changes!

Oh, and I'll add one:


15. ($5.99 @ linen's & things) Pyrex measuring cup, or any measuring cup for that matter to use for mixing salt:

Awww your pic was better than mine... I use it for measuring for dosing too...

Whoops, you posted the same thing basically... Meh, the more the merrier!

And one more:

16. Silica gel dehumidifier for use in your salt bucket/bag

Non-powdered latex surgical gloves. I use them for fragging zoas/palys and in the tank when my hands are cut up. Just make shure to rubberband the ends or a bunch of water rushes in.

Milk bottle (cleaned) for holding top-off water

don't forget the mesh bags they use for oranges and bridal veil material. It's useful for attaching loose shrooms to rock.

you should have seen some of the results I found when I searched for bridal veil material. One word, lingerie.

I prefer these...



Thought of something else, a small cooler is great for those long distance LFS trips. Especially if you live in FL like I do and the car gets nuclear hot.



Cheap pantyhose make great media bags for carbon etc.

I don't know how cheap these are but I find these items rather useful:

headlamp


temp gun

Very best way to clean the outside glass safely:

Small bathroom squeegee and some RO



G.F.C.I. either run inline or directly installed in the outlet. EVERY AQUARIUM SHOULD HAVE THIS.

taken from the Consumer Product Safety Commission: "A "GFCI" is a ground fault circuit interrupter. A ground fault circuit interrrupter is an inexpensive electrical device that, if installed in household branch circuits, could prevent over two-thirds of the approximately 300 electrocutions still occurring each year in and around the home. Installation of the device could also prevent thousands of burn and electric shock injuries each year.

The GFCI is designed to protect people from severe or fatal electric shocks Because a GFCI detects ground faults, it can also prevent some electrical fires and reduce the severity of others by interrupting the flow of electric current."

inline G.F.C.I.


receptacle

Plastic disposable pipettes, great for pulling test water for tubes and refractometer, spot feeding (less than turkey baster). Also dosing tank precisely. Very cheap

Click to view attachment

Save some big money on Kalk by buying surplus canning supplies at the end of the season (mrs. wages pickling lime IS kalk). Bake baking soda and mix it 1:3 with unbaked baking soda for a good buffer (taylor to taste-the baked stuff raises pH, the unbaked just slightly lowers it).

Those are my fav long term ways to save some $.

Can't believe I forgot this one.

Cheapo Light Timer

+1. I have two of those for my lights.

For all of you SPS guys I could post my $60 DIY dosing pump system. Anyone interested?

Great thread btw!!

a sponge

Disposable Rubbermaid food bowls with lids; come in a variety of sizes, under $5, awesome for everything from acclimation to fragging to transporting frags.

Funnel for adding water to containers and putting filter media in bags/pantyhose.
http://www.buytikitorches.com/images/funnel-small_1.jpg

Pitcher for adding water, acclimating, dumping filter media...
http://www.restaurant-services.com/images/Pitcher.jpg

Food containers for storing fish food-no smells, water changes...
http://www.transpack.co.uk/i/products/seal...-containers.jpg

Ive got more but these should be good.

FTFY

I was in a rush. Thanks

Hey, I got that exact model on my FW aquarium lights. Got mine at Walmart - was the cheapest model they had on hand. Works great - until the power goes off. I'd rather have a backup battery unit - but too lazy to replace it.

I've been using the same one now for 7 years on my various nanos. How's this for garbage, I bought a nice "powercenter" by Corallife with a built in timer about a year ago for my 65g, last week my $50 powercenter crapped out and I went out and bought another cheopo timer from Walmart.

I've got the exact same one too, and my coralife powercenter crapped out in weeks also....

$60?
Interested!

Also, crappy timers are why I just bit the bullet and bought a controller. I've had issues with the cheap ones though they usually are pretty reliable.

lol that rules!



but u know...not braded

Extension cord, always handy when mixing water.


Small flashlight for checking out critters when the lights are out.


Cupholders for top-off

The single most important tool to have

zip-loc bags for transporting fish!

I'm bumping this thread for the latest influx of n00b members. Enjoy

is good for filters. (I didn't think it up!)

In addition to the above I like my:

collection cup for acclimating/catching/fragging/etc


styrofoam lid as a place to sit frags


and I use the disposable pipet to feed Hakari S pellets to my smallest fish so I can control wasted food