I have theorized a new reefkeeping tool....

[Anonymous]

Anyone want to take a try at building one?


I need a combination net and scraper for my tank. It needs to be both because I always get disgusted when I scrape the sides and then have to spend hours trying to net all the floating gunk I just scraped out of the water.

Why not have a scraper with a net attached?

A couple of other design features need to be

1. Smallish so it fits around stuff
2. With a swivel head so you can keep the scraper flat against the glass
3. With a stiff handle so you can bring the proper pressure to bear against the glass.
4. The scraper should be something sharp, I use a razor blade but that would probably be too dangerous. Maybe a plastic edged scraper blade.


To use it you would dip it down to the bottom of the glass, press the blade against the glass and pull upwards.

As it scrapes the gunk off it slides right into the net. When you get to the top you can either rotate the net and dip it down again -- just like you do with a normal net -- or take it out and rinse it in a bucket.


I want one of these, it will probably be the only way anyone will ever get me to clean the back walls of my tank again....



Anyone want to take a whack at designing and building a prototype?

 

[Anonymous]

I've done something similar once with a siphon hose to the sump, the end of the hose with a filter bag around it, and just held onto the hose while scraping, but it's more trouble than it's worth.

Hopefully your net idea is easier to do

 

[Anonymous]

I made one of these a couple years ago. I was also going to make one for the Steinhart Aquarium.

If I can find the old one, or make the new one, I'll post you a pic.

 

[Anonymous]

I remember Andy37 made something similar, (searches) and posted pics in this thread:

http://www.reefs.org/phpBB2/viewtopic.p ... light=card

His used a nylon tied to the outake, but I would think that'd be easier than trying to net the gunk.

 

[Anonymous]

I already have a credit card on a stick. The credit card is too flimsy.

It would be nice if it takes off coralline algae too....


I would appreciate the pic Thales, I think I am going to start making something this week. My tank is horrendous....

 

[Anonymous]

Got glass? Use a razor blade man! Nothing is sweeter than hearing that sound as it just comes off. (of course I say this after I cursed all the coraline that seems to want to grow more on my glass than on my rocks)

 

[Anonymous]

Got glass? Use a razor blade man! Nothing is sweeter than hearing that sound as it just comes off. (of course I say this after I cursed all the coraline that seems to want to grow more on my glass than on my rocks)

Yes, its glass, yes I use a razor blade, yes I hate scoooping out all that stuff After I scrape it.

The urge to invent burns strong in this one young padawan....

 

[Anonymous]

I just leave it all in there

 

[Anonymous]

My powder blue eats everything I scape of the glass. He sits and waits patiently for every scraping.

I like to run the magfloat over the glass with out the razor just before the lights go out. Kinda cool seeing the polyp extension with the moon lights on, trying to capture the tiny particles.

I don't net it. It's free food.

 

[pcardone]

mine hits the overflow pretty quick. drop in a power head while scraping.

 

[Anonymous]

I've always found the stuff scraped up to get filtered out pretty quickly, however something like this doesn't seem to be too hard to design.

When I was the army the barbers had vaccumes attached to the clippers so as soon at the hair was cut it got sucked up and there was no mess.

You can do something similar with a siphon and have water changes done each time you clean the glass.

I've also seen some ads in the industry mags for some tool which siphons the gravel and filters the water putting it back into the tank eliminating the need to top off after cleaning the bed of the tank. I'm sure that could somehow be worked into what you needed as well.

Good luck.

 

[Anonymous]

If I wanted to siphon it or connect it to a vacuum I would. I just want to scrape and catch the scrapings in a net.


Someone build me one!


NOW!


:twisted:

 

[Anonymous]

Then I imagine if you wanted to net it, you would too.

 

[Anonymous]

:lol:

 

[trido]

What is this scraping everyone speaks of. Doesnt regular cleaning with a mag float take care of the viewing panels for everyone? I must just be lucky.

 

[Anonymous]

Do you really want a pic of my tank?

Its really bad, and will remain that way until I get a scraper with a net.

I also haven't fed it in 3 months at least....

 

[Anonymous]

<look up number for PETA...>

 

[Anonymous]

Bryan,

For a permanent solution you will be better off constructing a siphon hose with a filter sock zip tied to the end and placing it in your sump. Then zip tie the other end right at the end of one of these bad boys:

The net works but you have to clean it out too often or else the scraped algae just floats right out again. It's nearly as laborious as netting it all out by hand. Tne net is also nearly impossible to reach tight corners with as well.

And for a "next time you build a tank" solution, you can make your back wall a removable panel out of rigid plastic like Kydex. Then you just remove it, scrub it in your sink or front yard, and replace. Much easier.

 

[Anonymous]

Bryan,

For a permanent solution you will be better off constructing a siphon hose with a filter sock zip tied to the end and placing it in your sump. Then zip tie the other end right at the end of one of these bad boys:

The net works but you have to clean it out too often or else the scraped algae just floats right out again. It's nearly as laborious as netting it all out by hand. Tne net is also nearly impossible to reach tight corners with as well.

And for a "next time you build a tank" solution, you can make your back wall a removable panel out of rigid plastic like Kydex. Then you just remove it, scrub it in your sink or front yard, and replace. Much easier.

The sump is in the basement.

This tank is permanent too, I have given up on wasting any more money on rebuilding it, it no longer brings me happiness...

 

[Anonymous]

Then siphon it into a 5 gallon bucket or whatever you use when you do a water change. Trust me man, having done this on enough square footage to cover a football field it's the easiest way.