Non Standard Equipment Ideas

I am looking for ideas or more specifically non-standard reef keeping equipment that can make the hobby just a little bit easier and I thought it would be nice to post some of our better inspirations and how they work. I’ve seen some great ideas and a few of them I have already used to huge success.

Egg crate being one of them: used as separators, shelves and as an anti-carpet surfing device (i.e. aquarium top).

Dental picks - attach it to your siphon and really tackle bubble algae


What other ideas are there?

 

Some people drill into LR using a masonry bit and insert PVC or acrylic rods to stack rocks and keep them from falling over.

 

Actually, I wish I did that, I used nylon tie wraps - great idea - the drilling I mean.

 

Yup, That's what i am going to do.

 

I have found some cool things. Here are some pictures:
1. Eggcrate box to help acclimate new fish.
2. Frag holder made with small magnetic cleaner, a piece of eggcrate and a tiedown.
3. ATO-my new best friend is not a DIY but tricky to set up.
4. Eggcrate bottom of tank to keep rocks from crashing the bottom glass.
5. T5 retrofit sliding shelf for high canopy. Picture does not show additional light fixture.
Maybe someone can use one of these. I have other more detailed pictures if you want just PM me.

 

For the shelf on a high canopy? What's it's purpose? Does the light move across on a track throughout the day?

You beat me to the eggcrate on tank floor.

 

The shelf is basically a 1x1 track screwed into each side and the lights get attached to a wood shelf that slides back and forth on it. I got the idea from an old thread I read somewhere.
In my shelf I have 8 T5's on a retrofit and I used two 1"x4" hardwood planks(braced together in three places) and left a 4" gap in between for air flow to the ballasts.
I had originally bought an 8 x 54W fixture for my 48" 120g tank. I screwed the fixture directly into the wood top of the canopy. In a very short time I saw the top was warping and so I redesigned the next tank with a shelf plus I had to add a 24" retrofit to cover the 6' top.
I like the idea that I can slide the shelf out of my way when I'm cleaning and doing water changes plus I can take the shelf out easily to replace bulbs without lifting the canopy out. T5's are tricky to replace because they are so thin and can break easily. I know because I broke one when I initially set up the first fixture.

 

Plywood, epoxy, and glass for a BIG tank. Mine is ~200g.

I've got a different rendition of a DIY magnetic frag rack. I will have to post up pics.

PVC for plumbing, but that is pretty standard.

Plastic gutter guard with a PVC frame for a anti carpet surfing fence.
Razor blades for scraping glass.
Super glue for attaching frags to plugs.

Using GE silicone to mount baffles in sumps and attach the glass to the woody tank.

There's a TON of DIY stuff out there.

 

I know this is not an equipment but a photo album of what the tank and various equipment settings should look like or a video of stuff for whenever you are away. If you have time to plan in advance it would really make it easier for whomever is caring for your system. And a list of what to do if...