Aquascaping tools

[succinctfish]

What does everyone use for aquascaping?  Does anyone have those beautiful stainless steel tools?
Being a bit on the wee side, I always have difficulty reaching the bottom of the tank with my fingers, planting hairgrass is a nightmare, and I find that the the standard plastic aquarium reaching tool (now that's a great description  ) is a little limited in its ability to help put plants in.  Even with my recently set up and at the moment very haphazardly planted tank, which is I think only 21 inches deep, I still can't quite reach the bottom to work properly.   
I've pondered professional style tools, but they are hard to locate and pricey.  Are there alternatives (other than being 6 feet tall with long arms )?  Perhaps surgical supply places?  Do these tools really work well in the aquarium, especially for precision work?

[BigDaddy]

I am over 6 feet tall with long arms, and I still use aquascaping tools!  I have the Aquarium Landscapes kit... its a set of 2 foot tweezers, scissors and a rake type tool.

It wasn't cheap... and I still have to get my hands wet... but it certainly allows for much tighter planting and easier aquascaping.

[Aquaviewer]

I wish I had a pair of 24" tweezers, those would be great for getting into the corners.  I have a kit that I got on line (arizona aquatic gardens) with a set of 11" straight scissors and tweezers and a set of " curved scissors and tweezers and a rack thing.  I also picked up some nice nippers from Ontario Medical Supply (Off St. Laurent).  They don't have anything over 9", but you could pick up tweezers, forceps and various types of scissors for reasonable prices.  You need to go in a talk to a rep and look through a catalogue.

[mila]

Princess Auto They have 24" and 36" stainless steel, flexible pick up tool for few $ and 12" tweezers.

[babblefish1960]

I am over 6 feet tall with long arms, and I still use aquascaping tools!  I have the Aquarium Landscapes kit... its a set of 2 foot tweezers, scissors and a rake type tool.

It wasn't cheap... and I still have to get my hands wet... but it certainly allows for much tighter planting and easier aquascaping.

Your hands wet, I have only low tanks right now, 24" deep, but I still get very wet reaching in there to work on the bottom at the back. Shoulders and what not.

I previously had much deeper tanks, a few 30" and one 36" deep, I always ended up getting a soaked head trying to work on the bottom in those.

For one cool round tank that was 60" deep, I did resort to some tongs used in chemical generators. But that was too deep for me to see what I was doing, so I only ever had some jungle val in there.

You get your hands wet, lucky so and so, I still take duckweed off my face everytime I do something in there.

[dpatte]

i always work directly with my hands, except rarely to trim leaves with scissors.

[hamstercaster]

I'm 6'1'' and actually don't require any tools as I can reach the bottom no problem and use my fingers as a rake if need be.. When I added gravel and rocks the last time I was fascinated by the fact that my Zebras were nibbling my arms lol... such small fishies that aren't afraid of my big white arm in the tank.  Actually, we have a fridge right next to the tank and everytime I go down in the basement to get something out of the fridge, all the 20 zebras just get in this as close to where I am as fishily possible lol... they adore me, when can I say ;-)

[succinctfish]

Well, hamstercaster, and BD, you both have a foot on me , so you can see why I can't reach the bottom of the tank. (Well, I could if I stand in it I guess).
So, you and dpatte are aquatic tools in your own right , how deep are your tanks to reach in and be able to rake, that's impressive. 
I have to stand on a stool, tie back my hair, don appropriate sleeveless attire, improvise tools for the moment, and I'm still cussing trying to rearrange foreground plants.  One of the challenges of this water gardening is how hard it is to see exactly where you are in the tank, I plant, look at it from outside the tank, then rearrange. I need a team of assistants like Takashi Amano.  That's the solution!  I shall stand back, point imperiously and creatively at the tank, and all you tall long limbed rake fingered folk can arrange the tank for me!  (I am a genius )

[BigDaddy]

Did you just call me a tool?

BANNED!

[Laura]

I was wondering what people thought of the aquascaping tools as I always worried they would crush the stem plants when moving them around.
I'm tall with a 24" deep tank, and it's challenging getting plants tucked into the appropriate places, esp with that pesky driftwood and rock in the way.  I can reach the bottom, but as succint pointed out, seeing what you're doing when you're doing it is difficult.  I tend to do most of my planting and rearranging during water changes when the waters 6" lower.
I can't imagine some of the depth of Babble's tanks - I'd be swimming!!

[hamstercaster]

Mine's the regular 55g so I'd say 18 inches tall I believe.  I usually take my shirt off instead of rolling my sleeves or sporting a sleeveless shirt.  Not a sight for the faint of hearth 

[PoisonJello]

if you need a cheaper alternative for planting your tanks go to your local dollar store and see if they have the tool for automotive its about 2.5 feet you push the top and 3 or 4 claws come out at the bottom to grab stuff or if you need something bigger you can get the 2 or 3 foot clamp that disabled people use they cost about $30 I think they have it at walmart in the pharmacy

[dsylvak]

I use a pair of large tongs and an 18" wooden shoe horn to rake the gravel; both available from the dollar store. Work just great... lol

keith

[hamstercaster]

I use a pair of large tongs

keith

I believe we are discussing aquarium tools and not the type of underwear you wear