Aquascaping Tools

[jjp2]

I'm thinking about getting a set of the scissors and tweezers. I've seen them in 24, 12, and 4-6 inch lengths. Just wondering, what people's experiences have been using the various lengths of scissors and tweezers. My tank is the typical 22-23 inches deep.

Some openning questions for thought...

Is longer better or a pain because they are hard to work with?
Do shorter give you better control?
Are you going to get wet anyway so it doesn't matter?

Thanks,

[Craigthor]

I've got both long and short curved scissors and long Tweezers. I want to add some short tweekers to the bunch and some straight blade scissors. I like having a selection of lengths as some work better for one thing than another.

NOTE: This is just my Opinion and everyone may be different.

Craig

[Oscar17]

I have a small 6" tweezers with the curved-pointy end and that works great for planting hair grass, small stem plants and picking up tiny things. The larger 12" tweezers, I use to get at something at the back of tank for instance, but it's just too thick at the tip to actually use to plant something in gravel. If I had to choose only one I'd go with the smaller 6" with the curved-pointy tip.

[Phoenix-cry]

I like the long ones cause that way I can look into the tank and see what I'm cutting without my hand in the way of the view.

[jinx©]

I have a bit of both long and short tools but I seem to always end up using shorter scissors (4"-6") and longish tweezers (12") unless planting smaller plants/clippings where I tend to use 6" tweezers like Oscar describes. This work being on tanks from 12" to 20" depths.

On your deeper tank you may want to consider what will work best to reach the bottom while being able to view what you're doing through the front glass.
I'd say there's no easy answer as there are a lot of variables for each person/set up like height, arm length, tank depth, stand height etc.

[Sounguru]

I just bought a set that all the tools are 11" so i will let ya know what I think when i get them. I have tanks that are 12 to 24 inches deep.

[vegasMatt]

I was disappointed to discover that I am too clumsy for long scissors.

My favorite scissors are actually from an ER suture removal kit. They are short, four inches or so, but one of the blades has a hook-like tip. The hook makes a great guide when trying to clip just one thin shoot from a clump of hairgrass.

[Veloth]

I use just regular sewing scissors and my hands (No tweezers).

[lotekfish]

I have regular sewing scissors and some long curved scissors. The long curved ones are great for mowing down carpet plants but they don't cut easily through some stems plants because the long thin blades tend to flex. The short sewing scissors are great for those thicker stem plants.

As for tweezers, I have a pair of 6" curved tips, but I find I use my fingers most often because it always seems like the plants get caught on the tweezers, especially the roots, so I end up pulling the plant back out.

[wakesk8r]

I just bought a pair of long curved scissors from greenleaf. they are awesome! machined out of thicker material than most.
i have a deeper tank and use the long tools. When it comes to HC planting you have to have some pretty delicate tweezers

[bsmith]

I like long tweezwes and short scissors.

[cah925]

I have 2 sets of tweezers, 12" and 6" with curved tip. I also have 2 sets of scissors, shorter straight and long curved. It depends on what I'm trying to accomplish but normally I use the longer sets for cutting and planting.

[jjp2]

Great input. Sounds like most people are still getting their hands wet as most like the short to 12 inch items and they don't go fully to the bottom of most tanks.

[wug]

I have a 65 gal. Its 24 inches deep, the stand is pretty high and I'm only 5'9 I can't touch the bottom back no matter how far I stretch lol. I bought a 12 inch set of straight tweezers, curved scissors, and bulldozer. I use them all the time. Arms still get soaked. I made this post on how to use the tools so that the plants don't come out I've even had sucess planting hm this way....http://www.plantedtank.net/forums/di...technique.html