Freshwater

In This Chapter
Chapter 24
Ten Cool Aquarium Gadgets
Discovering what to keep around the house just in case
Understanding why you might need something very cool
Checking out gadgets you never knew existed
Aquarium Claws (Those Handy
Picker-Upper Doodads)
An aquarium claw is really not as menacing as its name might imply. This
little plastic claw (such as Aquatic Tongs) is a very handy tool for use in the
home aquarium. It makes moving tank decorations as simple as spending
mega bucks at the fish store. A button on the end of the handle closes the
claw around an object as you depress it. After moving the item, simply
release the button to release the grip.
The long handle on this device allows you to reach almost any area of a standard
aquarium without getting your hands wet. Keeping your hands (which
may be covered in germs, dirt, or household chemicals) out of the tank whenever
possible is always a good idea. Other good uses for this tool include
inserting plants into substrate, grabbing unwanted objects from the tank
(marbles, plant debris, and so on), and removing dead fish. At an average
cost of less than ten dollars, you really can’t go wrong with this marvelous
little gadget.
Never use a claw to retrieve live fish from your aquarium!
Algae Scrapers Are Fun to Use
One simple way to remove excess algae (the green, alien-looking glop that is
blocking your view) from the aquarium glass is to use an algae scraper. There
are several types to choose from, including a long stick with attached scrub