essential items for a new aquarium kit

[willie32]

I'm thrilled to finally be setting up my Aquascaper 1200 next weekend. The family has given me the green light, and I'm free from other responsibilities. Now, I want to create a dedicated maintenance kit for this tank, separate from the one I have in my office. I'd love to hear your top tips and suggestions for must-haves in this kit.

Here's my list so far:

- Python change kit (I'm a fan of the JBL one, mainly because it's black)
- Pond pump (essential for water changes after cleaning the sand)
- Buckets (I like the large 40-litre builders buckets with handles, and also some smaller ones - those Bribanta bins I got on clearance are really handy)
- Aquascaping kit (Vorestic is my go-to, it's a complete kit and great value)
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Welding detailing kit (it may sound unusual, but it's perfect for scrubbing algae and equipment)
- Algae scrubber (thinking of the Oase one - any recommendations?)
- Measuring jugs (a set of three would be ideal - large, medium, and small)
- Net (I'm a big fan of the extendable ones, especially since I'll have cichlids in this tank)
- Towels (both large and small)
- Chemicals and test kits - API tap safe, API master test kit, hardness test kit, and possibly a TDS meter if I decide to use cichlid salts.

Have I missed anything crucial? What would you add to this kit?

[WildFins]

I've got to say, I've found a siphon gravel vacuum to be a game-changer, although I do know a regular turkey baster can also do the job, I just find this one so much more effective.

[barnicle]

You've got a solid kit going on there willie32, I think you've pretty much nailed it.

[TwinTankman]

I think you'll find that one algae scrubber might not be enough in the long run for dealing with algae. I've got 20 tanks, and I used to have 13 planted ones, but now it's down to 7. Over the years, I've built up quite a collection of algae-fighting tools - here's what I've got:

I use small handheld pads for getting into tight spaces, and a handheld blade holder that can take stainless steel, plastic, or fabric-coated blades. I also have a long-handled algae holder that uses the same blades, and a long-handled, large-headed heavy-duty algae scrubber for the tougher stuff.

I've also got a large pack of single-edged razor blades for when I need to get really aggressive with the algae. For glass tanks, I've got small, medium, and large magnetic scrubbers that can be used with a pad inside the tank and a hand holder outside. The magnetism joins them, making it easy to scrub off algae without having to get your hands wet. And, of course, I've got a few inexpensive toothbrushes for getting into tight spaces.

For dipping plants or decor, I use bleach, followed by a rinse and a dechlor dip before putting them back in the tank. I've also found that a set of stainless steel measuring spoons - 1/4, 1/2, and 1 teaspoons, and a 1 tablespoon set of 4 - comes in handy for measuring out chemicals.

A quick note - I don't actually use Python hoses for water changes. Instead, I vacuum my tanks into a bucket and then empty the bucket into the toilet. I mostly use pumps and hoses to empty and refill my tanks. If I only had one or two tanks, I might use a complete Python setup, but with 20 tanks, it's just not practical. I also don't need to use dechlor, since I'm on a private well, but I do use it when I'm away from home or after doing bleach dips.

For emptying and refilling my tanks, I use a combination of pumps and hoses. I've got an old Eheim Hobby pump that's rated for 260 gph, which I use to empty my tanks into a bucket. I then dump the bucket into the toilet. For refilling, I use bigger pumps and drinking water-safe hose. I've also got a bigger pump for emptying large tanks into the toilet when I don't have access to a window. Most of my hoses and pumps use garden hose size connections, which makes it easy to switch between them. One thing to keep in mind is that you need a much bigger pump to raise water 6 feet than you do to empty the same height tank - gravity is your enemy when you're trying to pump water up, but it's your friend when you're pumping it down.

I vacuum my tanks until the bucket is full, then I dump it into the toilet. I also rinse my media in a bucket of tank water, which gets flushed. After that, I pump out any more water that needs to be removed, either out the window or into the toilet.

[Tigger]

I think a syringe or two would be a great addition to your kit, willie32, for taking water samples for testing.

[coltin]

I'm thrilled to finally be setting up my Aquascaper 1200 next weekend. The family has given me the green light, and I'm free from other responsibilities. Now, I want to create a dedicated maintenance kit for this tank, separate from the one I have in my office. I'd love to hear your top tips and suggestions for must-haves in this kit.

Here's my list so far:

- Python change kit (I'm a fan of the JBL one, mainly because it's black)
- Pond pump (essential for water changes after cleaning the sand)
- Buckets (I like the large 40-litre builders buckets with handles, and also some smaller ones - those Bribanta bins I got on clearance are really handy)
- Aquascaping kit (Vorestic is my go-to, it's a complete kit and great value)
- Bamboo toothbrushes
- Welding detailing kit (it may sound unusual, but it's perfect for scrubbing algae and equipment)
- Algae scrubber (thinking of the Oase one - any recommendations?)
- Measuring jugs (a set of three would be ideal - large, medium, and small)
- Net (I'm a big fan of the extendable ones, especially since I'll have cichlids in this tank)
- Towels (both large and small)
- Chemicals and test kits - API tap safe, API master test kit, hardness test kit, and possibly a TDS meter if I decide to use cichlid salts.

Have I missed anything crucial? What would you add to this kit?

I'd like to add a couple of things to my kit. Dental floss would be a great addition to go with the bamboo toothbrushes, I think it would be really useful for getting into tight spaces and cleaning around decorations.

I'm also considering getting a couple of different sized nets - an 8 inch and a 12 inch one. I know I mentioned earlier that I'm a big fan of the extendable ones, but having a couple of different sizes would be useful for getting into different areas of the tank.

[coltin]

I've found an alternative to be quite handy, a regular turkey baster does the trick as well, but personally, I've had great success with one of these.

[Lexat]

I think I'll add a little something for the family too, perhaps a few books to keep them occupied while I'm busy with the tank - a good distraction never hurts.

[infold]

I had a similar experience with one of those, not exactly the most pleasant thing.

[coltin]

I had a similar experience with one of those, not exactly the most pleasant thing.

I didn't