What’s the “weirdest” item or tool you use for tank maintenance that other reefers might not expect?

[Gumbies R Us]

One of my favorite aspects of reef keeping is seeing unique or creative ways people maintain their tanks. Maybe it is by doing an unconventional method or using a regular everyday household that is not usually meant for reef tanks. I want to know what is that one weird item or tool you use for your tank. Photo Credit: @gws3

 

[1112-425XL]

Icecube trays for frozen food.

 

[Slocke]

Other reefers wouldn’t be surprised but normal people would think I have a problem if they saw this:

 

[Jesse Sunday]

I always love your questions!

Mine is not too exciting. I use a silicone spatula to scrape/stir up the sediment off my bare bottom tank.

 

[mythesis]

Other reefers wouldn’t be surprised but normal people would think I have a problem if they saw this:

Wait, I see people talking about "Vodka dosing" on here all the time.... it's literally Vodka??? HAHHAAHA I thought that was some brand of supplement!

 

[danreef55]

Take a bottle brush to the inside of the skimmer for cleaning. Once it is all wiped down block the output of the skimmer and the scarped debris will go into the collection cup.

 

[Slocke]

Wait, I see people talking about "Vodka dosing" on here all the time.... it's literally Vodka??? HAHHAAHA I thought that was some brand of supplement!

Yep!
Ethanol is great for feeding bacteria and vodka is the cheapest way to add it.

 

[danreef55]

Yep!
Ethanol is great for feeding bacteria and vodka is the cheapest way to add it.

I keep a bottle near my sump too BUT it isn't for the tank it is for the reef keeper

 

[BriDroid]

Other reefers wouldn’t be surprised but normal people would think I have a problem if they saw this:

Same brand I use! I went to the liquor store and asked for a small bottle of the cheapest vodka they had. The clerk looked at me like???????? I felt obligated to explain to him that it was for my reef tank

 

[Slocke]

Same brand I use! I went to the liquor store and asked for a small bottle of the cheapest vodka they had. The clerk looked at me like???????? I felt obligated to explain to him that it was for my reef tank

Same!

 

[Jesse Sunday]

Yep!
Ethanol is great for feeding bacteria and vodka is the cheapest way to add it.

Not to hijack this thread, but now that you have the attention of more than a few on the topic... can you tell us the benefits and also how you dose?

 

[Dburr1014]

A credit card for cleaning glass and I'm going to go out and buy some loofahs for a nitrite Factory in the sump.

 

[Slocke]

Not to hijack this thread, but now that you have the attention of more than a few on the topic... can you tell us the benefits and also how you dose?

I follow this

NEW Vodka and Vinegar Dosing Charts

The reasons I'm updating the Vinegar and Vodka dosing charts are two-fold: 1. The ramp was unnecessarily slow. There was no perceived benefit to such a tedious ramp, and it led to reefers quitting because they thought carbon dosing didn't work. 2. The ramp did not scale up correctly...

www.reef2reef.com

 

[littlefoxx]

A long noodle spoon! Have to get the uneaten meat chunks out that the eels dont eat!

 

[Reefer Matt]

Effort and time.

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Icecube trays for frozen food.

That's a good way to make frozen food!

 

[Gumbies R Us]

Other reefers wouldn’t be surprised but normal people would think I have a problem if they saw this:

When I first joined the hobby, I was confused about what people meant by vodka dosing. I always thought it was just a reefing term, not actually using vodka, haha.

 

[427HISS]

Yep!
Ethanol is great for feeding bacteria and vodka is the cheapest way to add it.

And, racing engines.

 

[ZoWhat]

My common sense

 

[JonoH]

600mm long pair of tweezers