DIY Life

Sometimes DIY projects are not the prettiest models in the parade, but they get the job done and don't cost a whole lotta' cash at the same time. Being an avid aquarium owner, cleaner and admirer, I have to really (really) admire this water skimmer project.

If you have an old five-gallon water bottle lying around somewhere (yes, check those attics), you might be tempted to drum up your own skimmer using it and some pumping lines (and a pump) along with assorted items to get the finished product operational for that larger-style aquarium. As in, 50-gallon or more.

If you've got a cabinet that surrounds your larger home aquarium, this Lexan bottle skimmer system may be a neat project the next time you completely clean and empty your tank. That' or it will look like a commercial water filtration system for all those shower needs.

[via Great Reef Tanks]

While your new fall wardrobe may never see an old wire hanger, you probably still have some hiding in the back of your closet. Most of my clothes are hung (when they are hung!) on wooden or plastic hangers. The back of my closet, and admittedly, the floor, still overflow with old wire ones. It's time to put them to use.

1. Shoe hanger
   Bend up each end of the hanger and it will nicely hold a pair of shoes. This is particularly useful for some of your nicer shoes that you don't want scuffed around on that hall closet floor. You'll need to allot them some closet space but it will keep them clean and organized.
   
2. Go fishing
   I'm not suggesting you use an old wire hanger as a fish hook! You can use it to make a net. Bend the hanger into a circle and stretch old pantyhose around it. The children can take this to look for little fish in a stream, or sift out seashells at the beach.
   
3. Unlock car doors
   While this is most successful on TV, it will still work on some older model cars. Stretch the hanger as long and straight as you can with a hook on the end. Reach down between the window and door until you feel the latch. Pull it up and you'll unlock the door.
   
   If you've locked the keys in the car with the window slightly open you can use the hanger to fish them off the seat and bring them through the window.
   
4. Unclog drains
   Wire hangers are great for unclogging drains, both toilet and sink. You can go fishing around in the drain and try to remove the obstruction.
   
5. Radio and TV antenna
   I'm sure many college students are tinkering with their old TV, trying to get reception where it doesn't seem possible. Wire clothes hangers are great, and unlike regular antennas they can be manipulated in just the right way to optimize reception. Adding tinfoil will go a long way here too.
   
6. Mobile
   This could be a really fun project for an older sibling to make for the new baby. Use the hanger as your base and attach string and decorations. Colorful ribbons, or bells and seashells would work well. You might also like to hang pictures of family and friends from the mobile. I know you don't need me to say it, but I just can't help myself: Make sure you secure everything really well so baby doesn't choke.
   
7. Bubble wand
   This is another fun one for children. With your help the hanger can be bent into any shape and used as a bubble wand. Pour bubble soap into an old ice cream lid or other large shallow dish, dip the wand in and have fun.
   
8. Hang your clothes
   While it sounds like wire hangers are a thing of the past, there really isn't any harm in using them on most of your clothes. It may distort the shape of a delicate sweater, but if you're like me, there are far more T-shirts than pretty sweaters in the closet, and wire hangers will do just fine for those.

Those are just a few of the uses for wire hangers. I spared you the slingshot and modern art, but I have to leave something for the comments. Let me know what uses you've found for the old hangers kicking around your house.

A few months ago, a reply to an Ask Metafilter post about goldfish (mildly salty language warning!) blatantly stated an upsetting fact: the majority of pet goldfish die by drowning in their own... er... urine. Mistakes made by even well-meaning pet owners include overfeeding, feeding the wrong kind of food, putting the fish in a bowl that's too small (goldfish do better in a filtered tank), and not letting water de-ionize for at least a day or two before putting the fish in it (without this waiting period, the goldfish are likely to suffocate). It seems like most goldfish -- even ones loved by the kids who own them -- live short, unhappy lives.

I had goldfish as a kid: since I lived in a small apartment, and my mom hated rodents, goldfish were pretty much the only pet I could have. There was Frank (named after Anastasia Krupnik's goldfish) and, eventually, Spike, who each lived for about a year or two. We thought we did pretty well by Frank and Spike, both won from school carnivals, but as it turns out, the poor little fellas went to an unnecessarily early grave.

The Ask MeFi link is a sad one, but fortunately, I can balance it with a happy one. It turns out that, when given proper care, goldfish can live for at least a decade! Some of the suggestions at WikiHow's wonderful How To Make A Goldfish Live For Decades page include feeding food made just for goldfish (not generic "fish food"), making sure that the tank has at least 10 gallons of water per fish, and making sure that the tank stays "interesting" for the fish by giving them lots of places to explore that change every month or so.

With these instructions, you can have happy, healthy goldfish for years to come!