There’s nothing more fun for an aquarium enthusiast than putting together a beautiful aquascape. Aquascapes can add a touch of tranquility at home or in your office, creating a relaxing atmosphere.
But wait, you won’t be able to mimic that awesome aquascape you saw on Pinterest earlier without getting the right tools first. And no, it’s not as simple as visiting your local aquarium supplies store and picking a random set of aquascaping tools.
In this guide, we’ll help you pick the best aquascaping tools you can find on the market today, so stick around.
Key Takeaway
The Hosmide Aquascaping Tool Set is the best and will allow you to create stunning scapes in your own home.
Main Tools I Use For Aquascaping
I tools I use the most when aquascaping and for tank maintenance are:
Tweezers
Straight tweezers are good for gripping things underwater so you can grab stuff you can’t reach. They’re also great for pushing root tabs into the substrate.
Curved tweezers are best for planting roots or stems under the substrate. Push the plant straight down into the substrate, let the tweezers open, and pull the tweezers out to the side. This should let you get the tweezers free without pulling the plant out with it.
Scissors
Whether you use curved or straight scissors will depend on the angle of the stems you need to cut. I find straight scissors to be better for cutting things near the water’s surface and the curved scissors better for things deeper in the tank.
“Mowing” carpeting plants is best done with straight scissors, if the tank is big enough for you to get the scissors parallel to the substrate. But, if the tank is too small, or too deep, curved scissors can let you cut relatively straight with the handles at an angle.
Spatula
I use the spatula for two things:
Digging/covering holes for burying plant roots, especially towards the back of the tank, and especially for larger plants or thick bunches of stem cuttings. I hold plants down in the hole with a pair of tweezers and then use the spatula to fill in around the roots and stems.
Smoothing out divots and hills in the substrate after planting and maintenance. It’s much easier to see if you use the spatula, because you don’t need your whole arm to be in the tank, so you can watch what you’re doing through the front glass. The bigger the tank, the more helpful this is.
Best Aquascaping Tool Kits Reviewed
Hosmide Aquascaping Toolset
Includes:
- 2 Pairs of Straight tweezers
- Curved tweezers
- Straight scissors
- Curved scissors
- Gravel spatula
- Carrying case
As stated before, my favorite set of tools on this list is the Hosmide Aquascaping toolset
So, what makes this one stand out from the crowd?
Well, for starters, it literally comes with every sort of tool, including two sizes of straight tweezers (the only kit to do so), a set of curved tweezers, straight and curved scissors, and a gravel spatula.
It’s quite rare to find an aquascaping toolset with straight and curved versions of both the scissors and the tweezers. Most of the time, they’ll either be missing curved tweezers or curved scissors.
Additionally, it comes with a convenient organizer that saves you the hassle of finding a safe place to store your sharp aquascaping tools, especially if you have children.
It’s a zip up case with a slot for each tool, keeping them safe and secure. My OCD tendencies really like this aspect.
It’s also worth noting that the tools are made of high-grade stainless steel for maximum longevity, but you should still rinse and dry them before they’re put away.
Pros:
- Includes all the basic tools (including straight and curved tools)
- Tools are made of sturdy materials
- Nifty carrying case
Cons:
- Can’t think of anything!
Houkr 5 in 1 Stainless Steel Aquarium Plant Toolset
Includes:
- Straight tweezers
- Curved tweezers
- Straight scissors
- Curved scissors
- Gravel spatula
The Houkr Aquarium Plant Toolset contains 5 tools: straight straight and curved tweezers, straight and curved scissors, and a gravel spatula. The scissors are great for grooming your aqua plants, while the straight and curved tweezers make planting your plants a walk in the park.
The Houkr tools are made of high-quality stainless steel for extra durability, but it’s recommended that you rinse and wipe them, before putting them away, to boost their longevity.
The only downside to this set is that there’s no carrying case. But, if you’re not concerned about the case, these are solid high quality tools for your basic aquascaping needs. You even get both kinds of scissors with this kit.
Pros:
- Great basic set with 5 tools
- Durable materials
- Suitable dimensions for tank sizes of 15 gallons or less
Cons:
- Nothing to hold the tools
Liveek 7 in 1 Stainless Steel Aquascape toolset
Includes:
- Straight tweezers
- Curved tweezers
- Curved scissors
- Gravel spatula
- Net
- pH test strips
- Drawstring bag
The Liveek toolset comes with straight and curved tweezers, curved scissors, gravel spatula, small net, a drawstring carrying bag and the manufacturers throw in 80 pH test strips that might come in handy.
This toolset is a bit on the basic side, you don’t get the straight scissors with it, but it should still come in very handy for planting and trimming your underwater garden. And you can use the net to help you gather up clippings floating on the surface.
Being made of high-quality stainless steel, the tools are pretty durable and rust and corrosion-resistant. But definitely, dry them off before you put them away, just to be safe.
What’s more, the toolset comes with a carrying bag, so you can store your tools conveniently when not in use. I still think the carrying case from the Hosmide set is better, just because everything is laid out, making it easier to snag the exact tool you want, but at least the bag keeps your tools all together.
Please note, the bag fits the metal tools only, the net will need to be stored on its own.
Pros:
- Great basic set
- Net to catch clippings
- pH test paper
- Includes storage bag
Cons:
- Only straight scissors, no curved ones
Quarium Multicolor Aquascape Toolkit
Includes:
- Straight tweezers
- Curved tweezers
- Curved scissors
- Gravel spatula
- Drawstring bag
OK, I’m not too proud to admit that I’m easily distracted by a shiny object and that this set made the list because of all its pretty colors. These are stainless steel, just as durable as the others.
The rainbow colors come from exposing the steel to high temperatures. These tools are made from the same materials used by their competitors. They’re still tough and rust resistant, just like other stainless steel tools. But, they’re prettier.
With this set, you get straight and curved tweezers, curved scissors, gravel spatula, and a drawstring bag.
It’s a very basic toolset, but everything is brightly rainbow-colored, pretty cool in my book.
Just like other sets, you should make sure to dry off these tools before putting them away.
Pros:
- Includes most basic tools
- Super nifty rainbow colors
- Drawstring bag to keep tools together
Cons:
- No straight scissors, only curved
Picking Your Aquascaping Tools
Hands down, the Hosmide Aquascaping toolset is the clear winner. I love that you get everything you need in one set, and the carrying case is a huge bonus. I already have aquarium stuff strewn around the whole house, so anything that can help me keep things neater is very welcome.
Aquascaping is super fun, but you need to have the right tools to get the most enjoyable experience. Just make sure to pick a suitable toolset for your tank’s size containing all the essential aquascaping tools you may need. Happy aquascaping!
