Best aquatic gardening tool for the job?

[summit]

I am in need of a tool for some simple planting and pruning, but my tank is not very large, its an 8 gallon, and will be heavily planted with lots of crypts, anubias nana, mosses, and some various other low light plants.

I was looking at a Toms Aquatic Gardener, the 20" version, but was thinking this may be overkill as my tank is only 13" high, is there any other alternatives people are using? can I use some simple stainless steel sissors? Also do these aquatic gardening tools work well as a planter in gravel? specifically fluorite black? I have a heck of a time planting my crytps.

Thanks

 

[WhiteDevil]

I use my thumb nail ande tip of trigger finger to prune the plants, its jsut as sharp as a paring knfie cut.

 

[jsoong]

For soft plants, I just pinch parts off with my fingers. For tougher plants, it is better to use something sharp so as not to bruise of make bad tears on the plants. I use a small stainless steel surgical scissors for general pruning, and an exacto knife to divide roots & rhyzomes.

I use fingers to dig & plant .... much better control & you get tactile feedback.

 

[mgamer20o0]

i agree with jsoong. if you really want to go all out you could buy some ada tools at what $150 a pop lol

 

[summit]

thanks, I didnt think it was really necessary, some stainless scissors it is

 

[ingg]

tweezers are invaluable! Use your thumb planting single nodes of marselea for instance.

Ebay and look arond - aquaticmagic is one I can name, but there are several, that sell 10"-12" straight and curved tipped tweezers and scissors.

 

[shawnryan1977]

I found an alternative to where I can buy stainless steel surgical scissors straight or curved of different lengths and long tweezers. Near where I live there are a few stores that carry a little of everything, one is called the Trading Post. I paid $6.00 for a 12’ pair of tweezers and $3.00 for a small pair of surgical scissors. So check around locally to save on shipping.

 

[joy13]

Harbor Freight is where I got my long tweezers and the dollar store for my scissors.