DIY Substrate Leveler
 

Just thought I'd share something I made today.
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3325.jpg

Materials Needed:
Chopsticks (the ones you get at take-out places will suffice)
Card of some sort (I recommend a petco or petsmart card because their thinner than a credit card)
Razor

Total Cost: $0

Time to build: About 5 minutes (writing this thread took longer)

Step 1: Gather materials
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3328.jpg

Step 2: Cut the wide end with the razor
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3329.jpg

Step 3: Bend the razor to slip the wood
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3332.jpg

Step 4: Insert card of choice
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3334.jpg

Petco card
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3327.jpg

Petsmart card
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3325.jpg

Bigger Petsmart card
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3326.jpg

In action in my new Fluval Chi that I picked up yesterday during Black Friday at Petsmart
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3335.jpg

And it floats!
http://i1151.photobucket.com/albums/...y/DSCN3336.jpg

Thank you for taking the time to read through the thread :D

Nice DIY

Thanks! It means a lot because this is my first DIY.

This is really cool. Great idea. I love these DIY tool threads.

lol nice!

That's great! I've been trying a few different things to level out some sand, that looks like it would be perfect. Thanks for sharing!

Just glad that I could help.

I think I would wrap a piece of twist-tie or the smallest zip-tie around the split chopstick. As it shrinks and swells the card will get loose. Even a rubber band, though they will rot with time.

I still use my Pet Smart card for its original purpose, but the Pet Co card has been an algae scraper for so long all the color is wearing off.

But TaDoey's has interchangeable sizes, (4 sizes by placing the 2 card sizes in sideways or end first) floats, and reuses things like chopsticks and cards.

Be careful with where you put your fingers when splitting the chopstick with a razor so that you don't end up with 6 fingers on one hand.

We use chopsticks instead of spatulas in my house, so I don't have any spare spatulas laying around the house. It probably wouldn't fit in my fluval chi anyway.