- There are all kinds of cool gadgets and gear
that we use to support our reefing hobby
that you just don't find at an aquarium store,
but make the hobby either way more fun and interesting,
or really help us maintain our reefs in one way or another
or just keep things running smoothly.
And in this video, I'm going to be sharing
my top five favorite unlikely reefing tools.
Starting with microscopes.
The hobby is finally getting much more familiar
with how important the microbiome
of our reef aquariums actually is
and how much we can learn about the health of our reefs
by taking a look at those microscopic organisms.
A simple entry level microscope,
like this one that I have here,
is a great way to help diagnose issues
that you might be having with your aquarium.
Like identifying what type of pest algae or slime you have
or seeing if those tiny specs crawling on your Acro
is red or black bugs, or just an ostracod.
There is an entire world of critters
living up their lives in our reefs
that we just can't see with the naked eye.
And being able to identify them can go a long way
to solving common reefing issues.
A lot of these entry level microscopes
even come with USB cameras
so you can take pictures of your findings
and share them in groups and on forums
so that others can help you understand
what it is you're looking at.
Plus, it's just a really cool and fascinating extension
of a hobby that we already love
that just about anybody can delve into easily
by picking up a budget microscope.
The next unlikely tool is a 3D printer.
The world of 3D printing has blown up in many industries
and aquatics is definitely one of them.
I'm sure you've noticed that there are many
3D printed gadgets or components
available for reefers to buy.
From pump covers to screen top feeding portals.
But for those of us out there that love to tinker,
getting a budget FDM 3D printer
can be a huge boom for your aquarium.
There are a ton of great 3D models already out there
on the internet that you can download and print
right at home to solve issues
or even upgrade your gear with.
A perfect example is this tunes pump stand that I printed.
It took less than a dollar in filaments
and only a few hours to print.
And now I have a base for my pump
with vibration-absorbing suction cups
that just makes sure my pump is super quiet
and always sitting flat.
Plus, if you're handy with simple 3D modeling software,
you can create your own solutions and gadgets
to print that work perfectly to fit your needs.
I will admit that the upfront cost here
is gonna be a little bit more than a budget microscope,
and 3D printers have a learning curve all of their own.
But I do have to admit they are a ton of fun
as a hobby in their own right.
Plus if you don't have one yourself,
you might just know somebody who does have a 3D printer
and they could just as well print something for you
out of reef-safe material.
So ask, because chances are, they'll be thrilled to help.
Next up, the mini fridge/freezer combo.
This one is a bit more obvious
and I've actually talked about them in the past.
But having a dedicated mini fridge/freezer combo
near the reef tank is a fantastic investment
that just makes it easier to keep your reef properly fed
without taking up your family fridge space with,
let's face it, stinky fish food.
Stinky fish food is gross.
And it's not just frozen food, a lot of fish foods,
and also additives, can benefit from being kept cool.
Like Redsea AB Plus or Reef Nutrition TDL pellets.
Which ultimately makes sure
that they have a long shelf life without degrading
which also means you can buy bulk
without worrying about how long
it's gonna take you to go through it all.
Also, having frozen food right beside the tank
means you're more likely to feed those foods more often,
since it's right there and you're not stuck
walking across your house with wet stinky fingers
and a shot glass full of Mysis.
If you're handy, you can even port some dosing lines
into the fridge so that you can dose those aminos
right from the bottle hands-free.
Long story short, it's super convenient.
Your family's gonna appreciate
not having stinky fish food in the fridge
and having all of that fridge space back.
Plus, you can store some nice cold drinks for your buds.
So when they come over to check out the tank,
you've already got bevies at the ready right at the tank.
You pass 'em out.
It'll be a good time.
Everybody's gonna bond looking at the reef.
It's a feel good moment.
The next item on my list is a wifi web camera.
While many reefers already use a wifi camera
to monitor their reef while they're away from home,
I'm really surprised that more of us aren't doing it.
Wifi cameras have come a long way
and even cheap ones have enough resolution
and streaming power to let you get
a good look at your reef while you're away from home.
Whether you're checking in to see
how a new fish you added is doing
while you're not in the room
or because you had a notification
from your acquiring controller that something is off,
being able to pop in for a wellness check
from anywhere in the world with an internet connection
can be super helpful and really offer peace of mind.
Apex Fusion actually has the ability
to sync up with a wifi camera,
so you can view your tank right from your Fusion dashboard
while you're checking in on all of your tank's parameters.
Or that alarm that caught your attention,
which I think is just rad.
And on top of all of that, it's just a really cool way
to share your reef with others who might want to drop in
on a live feed to enjoy your aquarium in real time.
And coincidentally, number five
is a five gallon pail ShopVac.
Oh boy, if you have not discovered these yet,
this thing is amazing.
These are just an awesome tool
for an aquarium owner to have on hand.
We've all got pails lying around,
usually like five or seven gallon pails,
and they can all be transformed into an inexpensive
wet/dry ShopVac with one of these cheap-o bucket toppers.
I've had mine for like five years, at least.
And it's been through all kinds of abuse.
It's helped me suck up salt water from dropped buckets,
flooded RODI reservoirs,
it helped me empty and clean out sumps
and a whole bunch of other unintended salty wet messes.
And I didn't have to think twice
about whether or not that salt water
was going to destroy my nice ShopVac.
I just got straight into cleaning.
Even if it spends most of its life in your garage
or a closet, having it right there when you do need it
is a lifesaver and they are so cheap that it's a no-brainer.
There is also just a ton of gear that reefers,
myself included, would really love to see in the hobby
that doesn't quite exist yet.
But if you're looking for a million dollar idea
to start up your own aquatics business,
or maybe just want a sneak peek at the kinds of things
that we're likely to see coming up in the near future,
you can check out those awesome reefing gear ideas
by clicking right here.
(upbeat music)