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.
TLDR – Top Pick For Best Aquascaping Tools
The Hosmide Aquascaping Tool Set is the best and will allow you to create stunning scapes in your own home.
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
What Are the Basic Aquascaping Tools?
Your aquascaping toolset should include a set of tweezers, scissors, and a spatula. Tweezers are great for inserting root tabs and plants into your aquarium substrate. Oh, and they usually come in two varieties: long tweezers and curved long tweezers.
Long tweezers enable you to get a good grasp on stuff during maintenance sessions. You’ll likely use these extensively when creating your first setup. On the flip side, the curved long tweezers model is perfect for planting your plants as effortlessly as possible.
On top of that, you need a set of long scissors to keep your plants looking neat. Just like tweezers, you need a pair of straight long scissors and curved long scissors. Both do the same job, but curved scissors make it easier for you to trim large groups of aquatic plants in hard-to-access areas.
Additionally, your aquascaping tool arsenal must include a spatula for flattening out sand or gravel, especially if your aquarium has large areas of unplanted sand that may be affected by erosion. You can also use it in scraping the scum near the edges of your tank.
There are other less common aquascaping tools like curved spring scissors and wave scissors, but these aren’t really necessary if you’re not a professional.
Choose Tools Based On Your Tank Size
Picking the right tools for your tank size is essential if you want to create the most beautiful aquascape scene as seamlessly as possible. It’s all about choosing the correct tool sizes to match the size of your tank. What works for a 55-gallon would probably be all wrong for a 10 gallon.
For instance, your 55-gallon tank’s standard dimensions are 48” in length, 13” in breadth, and 21” in height, so your tools’ dimensions need to be proportionate to these dimensions, especially the height. The tank’s weight should be somewhere around 615 lbs for these dimensions, depending on the tank’s content, but most of them weigh roughly the same anyway.
On the other hand, a set of smaller tools would work great for a 10-gallon tank that weighs 111 lbs. You’d want your tools to be suitable for fish tanks that are 20” in length, 10” in breadth, and 12” in height. Here’s a complete list of dimensions for standard tank sizes:
| Tank Size | Length (in.) | Breadth (in.) | Height (in.) | Weight (lbs.) |
| 2.5 gallons | 12 | 6 | 8 | 27 |
| 5 gallons | 16 | 8 | 10 | 62 |
| 10 gallons | 20 | 10 | 12 | 111 |
| 15 gallons | 24 | 12 | 12 | 170 |
| 15 gallons (high) | 20 | 10 | 18 | 170 |
| 20 gallons | 24 | 12 | 16 | 225 |
| 20 gallons long | 30 | 12 | 12 | 225 |
| 25 gallons | 24 | 12 | 18 | 282 |
| 30 gallons | 36 | 12 | 16 | 348 |
| 40 gallons | 36 | 18 | 16 | 458 |
| 40 gallons (long) | 48 | 12 | 16 | 455 |
| 50 gallons | 36 | 18 | 19 | 622 |
| 55 gallons | 48 | 13 | 21 | 625 |
| 65 gallons | 36 | 18 | 24 | 772 |
| 75 gallons | 48 | 18 | 21 | 850 |
| 90 gallons | 48 | 18 | 24 | 1050 |
| 125 gallons | 72 | 18 | 21 | 1400 |
Best Aquascaping Tool Kits Reviewed
1. Houkr 5 in 1 Stainless Steel Aquarium Plant Tool Set
The Houkr Aquarium Plant Tool Set contains 5 tools: straight tweezers, curved tweezers, straight scissors, curved scissors, and a sand scraper. 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 after each maintenance session to boost their longevity. Not to mention, they’re designed in a way that minimizes plant damage.
The height of the tools ranges from 9.8″ all the way up to 12.5″, making them an excellent option for those who have small tanks that don’t exceed 15 gallons. The scraper’s breadth is 2.75″, which is just enough for aquariums of this size.
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
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
2. Liveek 6 in 1 Stainless Steel Aquascape Tool Set
The Liveek Tool Set is one of the most budget-friendly aquascape toolsets out there. It consists of 5 tools, including 0.5″ curved scissors, a 12.5″ sand spatula, 10″ straight tweezers, 10″ curved tweezers, and a 12.6″ fishing net. The tweezers come with serrated tips that make it easier for you to grip stuff, and the scissors are super easy to handle.
Whether you want to groom your plants, brush off the dirt, or add cornerstones to accentuate your aquarium, these tools won’t disappoint you. Additionally, you get an 80* PH1-14 paper that lets you test the water’s pH values to ensure that it’s safe for the fish.
Being made of high-quality stainless steel, the tools are pretty durable and 100% rust and corrosion-resistant. You can expect them to last you for many years to come without even the paint coming-off, thanks to the excellent spray technology used in making the final finish.
What’s more, the toolset comes with a carrying bag, so you can store your tools conveniently when not in use. Oh, and did I mention that the tools can be used for thin and small plants? That’s right; you can safely groom your small aqua plants without worrying about damaging them.
Just like Houkr’s toolset, the Liveek tool set is suitable for tanks that are less than 15 gallons.
Pros:
- Great basic set
- Bag and net to catch clippings
- pH test paper
- Durable material
- Suitable for thin plants
Cons:
- Only straight scissors, no curved ones
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
3. PERSUPER 4 in 1 Stainless Steel Aquascaping Tool Set
The PERSUPER Tool Set is one of the few aquascaping toolsets that come with a cleaning kit. Ensuring that your aquarium is clean is a step that many aquascaping hobbyists skip, but you’d be surprised by the difference it can make.
That’s why PERSUPER has made sure to include a cleaning kit that consists of an adjustable handle with replaceable heads. We’d have preferred the spatula to be a separate tool, though.
As for the included stainless steel tools, you get a pair of curved and straight tweezers with serrated tips that make gripping things much less of a hassle. You also get curved scissors for trimming your aqua plants.
The heights of the tools range from 9.84” to 10.63”, making them ideal for small or medium-sized aquariums.
Our only problem with this toolset is that it doesn’t come with straight scissors, an essential tool that would’ve made an otherwise perfect toolset even better. A carrying bag would’ve been a welcome addition too.
Pros:
- Includes most basic tools
- Comes with an algae scraper
- Includes a cleaning kit
Cons:
- No straight scissors or spatula
- No bag or carrying case
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
4. Hosmide Aquascaping Tool Set
The last toolset on our list is the Hosmide Aquascaping Tool Set, and we’ve made sure to save the best for the last. So, what makes this one stand out from the crowd?
Well, for starters, it literally comes with everything you need to craft a beautiful aquascape scene, including tweezers, aquarium curved tweezers, plant scissors, aquarium 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 leather pouch that saves you the hassle of finding a safe place to store your sharp aquascaping tools, especially if you have children.
The tools cause almost no debris movement at all, ensuring that the fish aren’t disturbed. It’s also worth noting that the tools are made of high-grade stainless steel for maximum longevity, but you must rinse and dry them off after every maintenance session.
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!
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Picking Your Aquascaping Tools
Hands down, the Hosmide Aquascaping Tool Set 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!
Last update on 2023-12-01 / Commissions Earned / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
