Tank tools

[Mugwump]

You'll want to keep a variety of handy tools and equip around.

   A good debris filter, like a HOT Mag, Diatiom, or something similar. These are handy, after cleaning, or doing tank cleanups, for getting the disturbed debris particles out of the water.

   A decent siphon tube....or python to clean the bottom and gravel. Also, for removing water during water changes.

   5 Gallon bucktes...enough said.....buckets are handy

   who can name or add some other things???

[LizStreithorst]

Buckets?  Mug, you live in the dark ages, you poor dear.  No need for buckets if you have pumps.

[Jdmcfast]

Buckets?  Mug, you live in the dark ages, you poor dear.  No need for buckets if you have pumps.

Lol

[Jo]

Buckets?  Mug, you live in the dark ages, you poor dear.  No need for buckets if you have pumps.

Agreed, but I got new fish and did the quarantine thing with everything like you & Jon told me too and I had to go Saturday and buy a bucket and siphon tank cleaner to keep everything isolated from rest of tank. The bucket sucked!!!!

What about a glass cleaning pad?

[LizStreithorst]

Yeah, QT can be a pain.  I can siphon out my kitchen door but I need to refill with buckets. 

Good for you doing a proper QT.  Usually you can get away with just tossing the new fish in the existing tanks but when you don't get away with it, you are in for a lot of heart ache.  You can loose everything.

[BallAquatics]

Come on ladies, don't be so hard on Jon LOL

I pump all my water too, but my discharge pump sits in a 5 gallon bucket that I move around the fish room.

Dennis

[Mugwump]

Buckets?  Mug, you live in the dark ages, you poor dear.  No need for buckets if you have pumps.

Buckets are good for transport, cleaning sponges, isolating fish before bagging and many other things....I use a pump to do water changes and a submersible pump from a holding tank to fill....but I couldn't live without my various sized buckets.....LOL

oh..and soaking/cleaning nets and equip. too

[Jo]

Yeah, QT can be a pain.  I can siphon out my kitchen door but I need to refill with buckets. 

Good for you doing a proper QT.  Usually you can get away with just tossing the new fish in the existing tanks but when you don't get away with it, you are in for a lot of heart ache.  You can loose everything.

I believe you and did not take any chances. I will try getting pics of them later.

[b125killer]

Yep I got a pump for water changes but still use buckets for everything else. Life got a lot easier with the pump.
I would also like to thank Jon for getting me hooked on the green 3M pads. I think I clean about everything with them. 

[Jo]

What kind of pump are you all using? I want to get one or else figure a way to turn power head into one. I have a python I empty and fill with, but our water is high, however much you use they charge double for sewer charge. So since I got back into fish keeping in March my water bill has doubled.    I figure if I just had a pump it may go down some.

[Mugwump]

Here's the pump....
http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-PC2-115-Volt-Portable-Transfer/dp/B000CPZTEK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341962918&sr=8-2&keywords=wayne+transfer+pump

I got a gray heavy plastic cattle feeding tub from Farm&Fleet,,about 100gal, then I got a submersible pump for the tub.....I put a few sediment/carbon cartridge filters in and fill the tub thru the filters, zapping the chlorine(mostly)...then I refill from the tub,,,,
For cleaning and draining...take the 2-3ft section of the python hose(with the switch0 and put it on a hose.....hose to pump, another hose to drain....bingo,,,,drain and fill from the tub....
You can even get a little remote switch for the plug and turn the pumps on and off as you drain or fill,,,,,great for moving between tanks...

[Jo]

Thanks Jon. Going to look at that pump.

[LizStreithorst]

I use this one  http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-PC4-115-Volt-Transfer-Water/dp/B0002YQUBM/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1350396782&sr=1-2&keywords=wayne+transfer+pump

If you look around you can find a deal.  I got mine for $99 with free shipping.  I water the garden with the out going water.

[Jo]

I've been doing that with water I take our of quarantine tank, and when I clean my sponges.

[P4Angels]

Here's the pump....
http://www.amazon.com/Wayne-PC2-115-Volt-Portable-Transfer/dp/B000CPZTEK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1341962918&sr=8-2&keywords=wayne+transfer+pump

I got a gray heavy plastic cattle feeding tub from Farm&Fleet,,about 100gal, then I got a submersible pump for the tub.....I put a few sediment/carbon cartridge filters in and fill the tub thru the filters, zapping the chlorine(mostly)...then I refill from the tub,,,,
For cleaning and draining...take the 2-3ft section of the python hose(with the switch0 and put it on a hose.....hose to pump, another hose to drain....bingo,,,,drain and fill from the tub....
You can even get a little remote switch for the plug and turn the pumps on and off as you drain or fill,,,,,great for moving between tanks...

Great minds must think alike. That's the same one we use....  Hmmmm where did  I get that idea???