Ohtomber 4-Piece Aquascape Tool Kit

The Ohtomber 4PCS Aquascape Tool Kit is a stainless steel starter set for planted tanks and terrariums. It includes 1 x 103 aquarium scissors, 1 x 10.63 straight long tweezer, 1 x 10.63 curved feeding tongs and 1 x 12.563 aquarium substrate spatula.

What each tool does

• Scissors: trim stem plants and remove old leaves. Clean cuts help plants regrow from the node.
• Straight tweezer: push stem cuttings and small plants into the substrate, and reach behind rocks.
• Curved tongs: place plants at an angle under wood or hardscape, pick out debris, and feed reptiles or fish by hand.
• Substrate spatula: smooth the substrate, build slopes and terraces, and scrape soft algae from glass.

Material

The tools are stainless steel with a rustproof coating. In saltwater use, Ohtomber recommends rinsing salt off the tools and wiping them dry to extend their life. Do the same in freshwater; mineral spots build up over time.

Length

At around 10 to 12.56 inches, these suit most standard tanks of typical depth. For deep tanks, longer 15 inch tools like the WORFACE kit keep your hands further from the water.

Planting technique

1. Grip the stem low, near the base, with the straight tweezer.
2. Push it into the substrate at a slight angle.
3. Open the tweezer and pull it out slowly so the plant stays put.

Who it suits

Beginners setting up a first planted tank and anyone who needs a basic set for routine trimming. More advanced scapers may want extra shapes like wave scissors, as in the hygger 6-in-1 kit.

Care

Dry tools before storing them, and keep the tweezer tips aligned. Bent tips make planting harder and can tear delicate plants.

Keep the four tools together in a cup or drawer near the tank so they are at hand during water changes, when most trimming and replanting happens. Wipe them after each session rather than letting them dry with tank water on them.