Share your everyday items converted to reef use.

DLANDINO · 09/06/2008, 07:29 PM

I think this may be an interesting, informative thread. Share your everyday items that you have found a way to use for your reef inhabitants. For instance, today I picked up one of these guys http://www.laprimashops.com/aerolatt...k_p_38-41.html

It is a hand held milk frother. I just used it as a mini, hand held blender on a cube of thawed mysis shrimp. The lps and sps are loving it.

Share away....

Dave

Saltz Creep · 09/06/2008, 07:47 PM

Call me crazy but...

ACBlinky · 09/06/2008, 08:10 PM

Turkey baster, for blowing detritus off rocks
Razor blades, for scraping coralline off tank walls
Vinegar, for removing coralline and calcium deposits from equipment
Bleach, for sterilizing things used in the tank & washing filter socks
My husband's car-polishing cloths, to clean the outside glass
Nori and other seaweeds, fresh seafood (meant for human consumption), to feed the fish
Epsom salts, to add magnesium to the water
Vinegar jug, IV tubing and an IV thumbwheel, used as a cheap way to drip-dose additives (alternative to an AquaDose unit)
BBQ brush, to scrub LR
Toothbrush, to scrub equipment & inside the tank
Nail brush, for same
Filter socks (they're actually for vacuums), to collect detritus
Window screen frame & bird netting, to construct a wrasse-proof lid that lets light in

As well as the measuring cup, knives and measuring spoons that Saltz Creep mentioned

gogregerson · 09/06/2008, 08:25 PM

Ms.Wages Pickling Lime
Driveway ice melt (Dow Fake and Mag Flake)
Baking Soda

egdevilboy · 09/06/2008, 10:06 PM

my hands...

jrdoan · 09/07/2008, 03:20 PM

Do paper towels have non reef related uses ??

syntax357 · 09/07/2008, 03:53 PM

chopstick for mixing food

Kellie in CA · 09/07/2008, 05:40 PM

Those blue car drying towels are the best for keeping the outside of the tank clean. No streaks!!!

SSalty · 09/07/2008, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kellie in CA
Those blue car drying towels are the best for keeping the outside of the tank clean. No streaks!!!

I also use those blue Micro-Fiber cloths too. They work great for the tank and drying my hands after they have been in the tank.

agreeive?fish · 09/07/2008, 06:59 PM

Iam not allowed to use any household items for my fish tanks (says the wife but what she dont know wont get me into trouble until she finds out)

besides most items listed in other peoples posts.. garden hoses work wonders for draining the tanks(water changes) and for filling the tanks from the water change containers (i cut both end off the hose and buy the high dollar ones because the cheap ones kink and restict water flow

i also have a glass canister that has the wire ring / rubber gasket lid that i dump a container of formula 1, formula 2 and prime reef flakes into and mix them together for ease of feeding on flakes but still aint found an effecient way to mix up various types of frozens fo ease of feeding

ckusnierek · 09/07/2008, 07:05 PM

SUPER GLUE!

rhiggsbear · 09/07/2008, 07:25 PM

Gutter Guard, syringes, glass baby food jars, 2 liter plastic pop bottles, razor blade holder/handle, ziplock bags, rubber gloves, cotton towels

Rysam · 09/07/2008, 08:00 PM

i use a springy clamp tea ball to thaw my frozen foods in. just let it drain for 5 seconds and dump it in the tank. the mesh is fine enough to hold the food in and let the water out.

widmer · 09/07/2008, 09:09 PM

lol if only I knew how to work online image hosting, this week I made a protein skimmer out of a pop bottle and pvc pipes and it works GREAT. Also, my refugium is in a beer brewing bucket.

limitdown · 09/08/2008, 01:27 AM

Great thread. Ways to save money.
Sometimes I just shake my head when seemingly common household items are labeled "reef safe" and marked up 10x

abulgin · 09/08/2008, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Kellie in CA
Those blue car drying towels are the best for keeping the outside of the tank clean. No streaks!!!

All I can say is Shamwow!

seapug · 09/08/2008, 08:59 AM

I gauge its usefulness by how angry my wife gets when I use it. The better it works, the angrier it makes her-- measuring spoons, measuring cups, bath towels, etc.

LockeOak · 09/08/2008, 09:39 AM

Plastic coat hangers cut into pieces as frag pegs or rockwork skewers.

CleveYank · 09/08/2008, 10:21 AM

Dead washing machine as frag tank stand in basement at my old house.

adunne · 09/08/2008, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by seapug
I gauge its usefulness by how angry my wife gets when I use it. The better it works, the angrier it makes her-- measuring spoons, measuring cups, bath towels, etc.

I couldnt agree with this comment any more!! Thats exactly how i gauge it too! too funny!

add Skewers to the list used to feed nem's.

sk8rreefgeek · 09/08/2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by widmer
this week I made a protein skimmer out of a pop bottle and pvc pipes and it works GREAT.

what!? Please share some more info on this...

J.russell · 09/08/2008, 01:56 PM

I use one of those plastic rubbermaid bread containers to check my SG. Fill it with some water and stick the hydrometer in there

09/06/2008, 07:29 PM	#1
DLANDINO D.L. Heritage Rings Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Clinton, CT USA Posts: 5,610	Share your everyday items converted to reef use. I think this may be an interesting, informative thread. Share your everyday items that you have found a way to use for your reef inhabitants. For instance, today I picked up one of these guys http://www.laprimashops.com/aerolatt...k_p_38-41.html It is a hand held milk frother. I just used it as a mini, hand held blender on a cube of thawed mysis shrimp. The lps and sps are loving it. Share away.... Dave

09/06/2008, 08:10 PM	#3
ACBlinky Premium Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Peterborough, ON, Canada Posts: 4,954 Blog Entries: 20	Turkey baster, for blowing detritus off rocks Razor blades, for scraping coralline off tank walls Vinegar, for removing coralline and calcium deposits from equipment Bleach, for sterilizing things used in the tank & washing filter socks My husband's car-polishing cloths, to clean the outside glass Nori and other seaweeds, fresh seafood (meant for human consumption), to feed the fish Epsom salts, to add magnesium to the water Vinegar jug, IV tubing and an IV thumbwheel, used as a cheap way to drip-dose additives (alternative to an AquaDose unit) BBQ brush, to scrub LR Toothbrush, to scrub equipment & inside the tank Nail brush, for same Filter socks (they're actually for vacuums), to collect detritus Window screen frame & bird netting, to construct a wrasse-proof lid that lets light in As well as the measuring cup, knives and measuring spoons that Saltz Creep mentioned __________________ "The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears, or the sea." - Isak Dinesen Current Tank Info: 150g mixed reef, 30g sump/refugium, LED lighting, 100lbs LR, coral beauty, flame angel, blue & yellow tangs, gobies, damsels, 6-line wrasse, lawnmower blenny, dottyback, clown pair, rabbitfish, shrimp, crabs, CUC.

09/07/2008, 06:59 PM	#10
agreeive?fish Registered Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 3,803	Iam not allowed to use any household items for my fish tanks (says the wife but what she dont know wont get me into trouble until she finds out) besides most items listed in other peoples posts.. garden hoses work wonders for draining the tanks(water changes) and for filling the tanks from the water change containers (i cut both end off the hose and buy the high dollar ones because the cheap ones kink and restict water flow i also have a glass canister that has the wire ring / rubber gasket lid that i dump a container of formula 1, formula 2 and prime reef flakes into and mix them together for ease of feeding on flakes but still aint found an effecient way to mix up various types of frozens fo ease of feeding Last edited by agreeive?fish; 09/07/2008 at 07:04 PM.

09/07/2008, 07:05 PM	#11
ckusnierek Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Elkhart, Indiana Posts: 176	SUPER GLUE! __________________ They call me Chris I'm obsessed with fuzzy sticks 125 "In Wall" SPS :: 6*80T5HO on IC660's :: ETSS600 :: Dart with OM 4-Way and 2xMP40w-ES Current Tank Info: They call me Chris I'm obsessed with fuzzy sticks

09/07/2008, 07:25 PM	#12
rhiggsbear Another Brick in the Wall Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: Wenatchee, WA Posts: 571	Gutter Guard, syringes, glass baby food jars, 2 liter plastic pop bottles, razor blade holder/handle, ziplock bags, rubber gloves, cotton towels __________________ Keep Reefin! ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> ¸. •´¯`•.¸.´¯`•.. ><((((º>`•.¸¸.•...¸><((((º> ><((((º>`•.¸.•´¯`•...¸><((((º> •.¸.´¯`•.. ><((((º>

09/06/2008, 07:47 PM	#2
Saltz Creep Registered Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Hickville, FL Posts: 3,728	Call me crazy but...

09/06/2008, 08:25 PM	#4
gogregerson Registered Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Hudson, WI Posts: 36	Ms.Wages Pickling Lime Driveway ice melt (Dow Fake and Mag Flake) Baking Soda

09/06/2008, 10:06 PM	#5
egdevilboy Moved On Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Southern Florida Posts: 620	my hands...

09/07/2008, 03:20 PM	#6
jrdoan Registered Member Join Date: May 2007 Location: Baltimore MD Posts: 68	Do paper towels have non reef related uses ??

09/07/2008, 03:53 PM	#7
syntax357 Registered Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Indiana Posts: 312	chopstick for mixing food

09/07/2008, 05:40 PM	#8
Kellie in CA Registered Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Claremont, CA Posts: 203	Those blue car drying towels are the best for keeping the outside of the tank clean. No streaks!!!

09/07/2008, 08:00 PM	#13
Rysam Registered Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: paradise california Posts: 1,000	i use a springy clamp tea ball to thaw my frozen foods in. just let it drain for 5 seconds and dump it in the tank. the mesh is fine enough to hold the food in and let the water out. __________________ Josh “Seek advice but use your own common sense” Yiddish Proverb quote “Being ignorant is not so much a shame, as being unwilling to learn.” Benjamin Franklin Current Tank Info: 135 reef

09/07/2008, 09:09 PM	#14
widmer Drug Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Rochester, MN Posts: 2,958	lol if only I knew how to work online image hosting, this week I made a protein skimmer out of a pop bottle and pvc pipes and it works GREAT. Also, my refugium is in a beer brewing bucket.

09/08/2008, 01:27 AM	#15
limitdown Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 640	Great thread. Ways to save money. Sometimes I just shake my head when seemingly common household items are labeled "reef safe" and marked up 10x __________________ All I want for Christmas is to stay employed... Current Tank Info: 200g display + 50g sump FO

09/08/2008, 08:59 AM	#17
seapug Registered Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: 4980 ft. Posts: 7,954 Blog Entries: 1	I gauge its usefulness by how angry my wife gets when I use it. The better it works, the angrier it makes her-- measuring spoons, measuring cups, bath towels, etc. __________________ insert clever saying here. Current Tank Info: 200 gallon custom Marineland DD peninsular tank. LPS dominated mixed reef. Previous 90 gallon mixed reef TOTM April 2009.

09/08/2008, 09:39 AM	#18
LockeOak Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Athens, GA Posts: 839	Plastic coat hangers cut into pieces as frag pegs or rockwork skewers.

09/08/2008, 10:21 AM	#19
CleveYank 20 Years and Over Join Date: Feb 2000 Posts: 3,052	Dead washing machine as frag tank stand in basement at my old house.

09/08/2008, 01:56 PM	#22
J.russell What was I thinking??? Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Norfolk Va. Posts: 738	I use one of those plastic rubbermaid bread containers to check my SG. Fill it with some water and stick the hydrometer in there