Short on cash? No worries!

[Akari_32]

This will be a fun thread smile

Here, I, and you great people of MTS, will get creative! We have all kinds of potentially useful things laying around our houses. What do you use for your tanks that weren't originally intended for fishy-use?

-Terra Cotta pots, glass jars-
Hides/caves. Porous surface also allows the build up of nitrifying bacteria. Can use used on its side, tipped up, cut in half, even filled with substrate with plants in it! Cover the out side in silicon, and roll in your favorite substrate, and you have a nifty cave!

-Turkey Basters-
I use mine for feeding *thawed* frozen foods, spot cleaning the gravel, and quick mixing for salt baths.

-Silk Plants (not meant for aquarium use)-
Cut them to the length you like, silicon some glass marbles to the bottom, and silicon over any exposed wire, and you have yourself custom-made plants! Silicon them to a Terra Cotta pot, or glass jar, and you have your very own fishy cave!

-Forks-
Thats right, the things you eat with! Use these to stab fresh veggies to give your veggie-loves a healthy snack, just drop the whole thing in the tank. You may even tie a bit of fishing line to the fork so you don't have to get your hands wet when it comes time to remove it.

-Chop Sticks-
Great for planting stubborn plants in the substrate. Wrap a damp paper towel around the end, and you have the perfect cleaning tool for filters, tank corners and hard-to-reach places.

I use all kinds of things in my tanks. If I come up with any more, I'll add them smile What all do you guys use?  

[Eizoryu]

I just have my DIY filter baffle made from a water bottle. xD
I use a turkey baster for feeding F/T foods to my boys and spraying loose buildup from the divider screen.

Oh! Not really an "inside the tank", per se, but still worth mentioning, I think. I don't know how many of you have laser pointers, but it's not just a cat/dog toy anymore! biggrin My tiger barbs and danios go nuts when I shine it around the tank. And I'm trying to interest the boys in it. Is not going so well, though. lol  

[Akari_32]

Eizoryu

I just have my DIY filter baffle made from a water bottle. xD
I use a turkey baster for feeding F/T foods to my boys and spraying loose buildup from the divider screen.

Oh! Not really an "inside the tank", per se, but still worth mentioning, I think. I don't know how many of you have laser pointers, but it's not just a cat/dog toy anymore! biggrin My tiger barbs and danios go nuts when I shine it around the tank. And I'm trying to interest the boys in it. Is not going so well, though. lol

Lazer pointers-- YES! I did it in a tank full of Cherry Barbs; greatest thing EVER XD  

[Eizoryu]

Akari_32

Eizoryu

I just have my DIY filter baffle made from a water bottle. xD
I use a turkey baster for feeding F/T foods to my boys and spraying loose buildup from the divider screen.

Oh! Not really an "inside the tank", per se, but still worth mentioning, I think. I don't know how many of you have laser pointers, but it's not just a cat/dog toy anymore! biggrin My tiger barbs and danios go nuts when I shine it around the tank. And I'm trying to interest the boys in it. Is not going so well, though. lol

Lazer pointers-- YES! I did it in a tank full of Cherry Barbs; greatest thing EVER XD

I know, right? 8D I've done it to all the tanks at work. Tiger barbs and African cichlids have the BEST reactions!  

[Kalaria Kalathandra]

I've used drinking glasses before, the fish are very intrigued and confused by it all the time.

PVC Pipe pieces are good for them to hide in or for enrichment, sometimes switching out decorations and props keep them amazed and happy.

For bettas I'll sometimes put in shiny mancala beads.

I've also used the silk plants, dollar stores, michaels, etc. They are cheaper than the aquarium plants and 80% of the time look better biggrin  

[Akari_32]

Kalaria Kalathandra

I've used drinking glasses before, the fish are very intrigued and confused by it all the time.

PVC Pipe pieces are good for them to hide in or for enrichment, sometimes switching out decorations and props keep them amazed and happy.

For bettas I'll sometimes put in shiny mancala beads.

I've also used the silk plants, dollar stores, michaels, etc. They are cheaper than the aquarium plants and 80% of the time look better biggrin

On the PVC note, I've heard of people using those hamster tunnels, and making bendy, curvy tunnels for their fish to play in.  

[Akari_32]

Also though of another one:

Stainless Steel Kitchen Tongs:

Planting and decorating tall or deep tanks. Stainless steel tongs can be purchased at a hardware store for very cheaply.  

[Moroseth Anaratharach]

With cheap forks you can bend them and hang them off the tank walls to feed fishies biggrin

Ooh, yeah! Instead of tying a string to one, and sinking it.  

[Akari_32]

Thought of another one!

Panty hose!

Good as a filter media bag, intake tube cover (to prevent fry and shrimp being sucked up, and to protect long, flowy fins), holding seeded gravel in a new tank (for an 'instant cycle'), holding raw shrimp or fish food during a fishless cycle, and so much more!  

[Vanilla eXee]

Never thought of the fork idea! I have two veggie clips, but sometimes I just don't feel like going through the hassle of sticking my hand in the tank, getting them to stick, then washing my entire arm and all that it entails. Awesome idea!

You would think my tank is a terracotta graveyard xD I love those things. Something that is kinda cool for feeding thawed frozen things: If you use the already grated Parmesan cheese stuff (or any other type of spice/condiment that has a secure lid with little holes) it can work to keep them contained in the fridge and the holes are good for tipping some into the tank without tipping all of it. Squeeze bottles also work really well for this.  

[Akari_32]

Vanilla eXee

Never thought of the fork idea! I have two veggie clips, but sometimes I just don't feel like going through the hassle of sticking my hand in the tank, getting them to stick, then washing my entire arm and all that it entails. Awesome idea!

You would think my tank is a terracotta graveyard xD I love those things. Something that is kinda cool for feeding thawed frozen things: If you use the already grated Parmesan cheese stuff (or any other type of spice/condiment that has a secure lid with little holes) it can work to keep them contained in the fridge and the holes are good for tipping some into the tank without tipping all of it. Squeeze bottles also work really well for this.

Oh thats a good idea! I use a turkey baster to feed frozen foods. Lets me feed the ones that are too stupid/shy to get into the feeding frenzy lol  

[Vanilla eXee]

Akari_32

Vanilla eXee

Never thought of the fork idea! I have two veggie clips, but sometimes I just don't feel like going through the hassle of sticking my hand in the tank, getting them to stick, then washing my entire arm and all that it entails. Awesome idea!

You would think my tank is a terracotta graveyard xD I love those things. Something that is kinda cool for feeding thawed frozen things: If you use the already grated Parmesan cheese stuff (or any other type of spice/condiment that has a secure lid with little holes) it can work to keep them contained in the fridge and the holes are good for tipping some into the tank without tipping all of it. Squeeze bottles also work really well for this.

Oh thats a good idea! I use a turkey baster to feed frozen foods. Lets me feed the ones that are too stupid/shy to get into the feeding frenzy lol

I sometimes have trouble with the turkey baster method.  

[Akari_32]

Vanilla eXee

Akari_32

Vanilla eXee

Never thought of the fork idea! I have two veggie clips, but sometimes I just don't feel like going through the hassle of sticking my hand in the tank, getting them to stick, then washing my entire arm and all that it entails. Awesome idea!

You would think my tank is a terracotta graveyard xD I love those things. Something that is kinda cool for feeding thawed frozen things: If you use the already grated Parmesan cheese stuff (or any other type of spice/condiment that has a secure lid with little holes) it can work to keep them contained in the fridge and the holes are good for tipping some into the tank without tipping all of it. Squeeze bottles also work really well for this.

Oh thats a good idea! I use a turkey baster to feed frozen foods. Lets me feed the ones that are too stupid/shy to get into the feeding frenzy lol

I sometimes have trouble with the turkey baster method.

I almost always suck up some tank water, flip it upside down, cover the hole, and shake the crap out of it when I'm done feeding lol Every now and then it gets a good rinse in hot water.  

[Apotheos]

Eizoryu

Akari_32

Eizoryu

I just have my DIY filter baffle made from a water bottle. xD
I use a turkey baster for feeding F/T foods to my boys and spraying loose buildup from the divider screen.

Oh! Not really an "inside the tank", per se, but still worth mentioning, I think. I don't know how many of you have laser pointers, but it's not just a cat/dog toy anymore! biggrin My tiger barbs and danios go nuts when I shine it around the tank. And I'm trying to interest the boys in it. Is not going so well, though. lol

Lazer pointers-- YES! I did it in a tank full of Cherry Barbs; greatest thing EVER XD

I know, right? 8D I've done it to all the tanks at work. Tiger barbs and African cichlids have the BEST reactions!

Try it with crayfish or goldfish, pretty good reactions as well.