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Equipment & Tools

This is not a catalog of random products. This is the exact equipment running in my lab right now—from the microscopes I use for analysis to the clip-on lenses I use for filming.

All Equipment
Filming
Microscopy
Lighting
Tank & Water

Filming

How I record macro footage
Clip on lens I Use This

KINGMAS 3-in-1 Universal Clip Lens

~$7.00

I get asked constantly what camera I use. It's just my phone with this $7 macro lens clipped over it. Clips directly onto any phone — no app needed.

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Macro shot of roots

Usage Tips

The focal length is extremely short. You must place the lens almost touching the glass of your aquarium to get images like these. Wipe the glass before shooting.

Macro shot of shrimp

Microscopy

Cellular analysis equipment
Microscope
Volvox Closterium
Primary Scope

AmScope B490B Binocular

~$385.00

The professional microscope used in all my videos. Resolves cells, plant tissue, and bacteria (40X–2000X).

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Budget Alternatives

You don't need to start here. These are excellent cheaper options:

1. AmScope All-Metal Kit (Blue) — ~$150 View on Amazon →
2. Compound Binocular — ~$200 View on Amazon →
3. AmScope M102C-PB10 — ~$90 View on Amazon →
Kids Scope
First Scope

AmScope-KIDS M30

~$40.00

My actual first microscope. Enough magnification (1200x) to see living organisms before investing.

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Air Blower
Maintenance

Lens Dust Blower

~$6.00

Essential for keeping microscope lenses and filters free of dust particles between uses.

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Lighting

Programmable planted tank LEDs
Hygger Light Hygger Timer
I Use This

Hygger Programmable LED (26W)

$33.00 – $75.00

Built-in LCD controls timer, intensity, and sunrise/sunset modes. No external controller needed. I dropped it in the water 5 years ago and it still runs perfectly.

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AQQA Light AQQA Controller
I Use This

AQQA LED Clip Light (11W)

~$27.00

Currently running on my Nano Cube. Strong waterproof clip, built-in memory functions, and full spectrum without overheating small water volumes.

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Tank & Water

Circulation and Chemistry
AQQA Wavemaker
Circulation

AQQA Wave Maker

Used in my experimental setups. Fully submersible, adjustable, and completely silent.

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Seachem Prime
Chemistry

Seachem Prime

Standard tap water treatment and an excellent neutralizer for chemical sterilization processes.

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Shrimp Dinner
Livestock

GlasGarten Shrimp Dinner

Used strictly as a breeding season supplement, not a daily feed. One 35g bag lasts me years.

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Why This Page Exists

Impossible Aquariums was founded on a simple premise: the aquarium hobby deserves information grounded in actual biology, not just marketing claims. Maintaining this standard—and keeping the platform independent—requires sustainable support.

Purchases made through this equipment directory directly fuel the mission. They provide the resources needed to translate dense ecological research into accessible articles, to fund long-term controlled studies like the SUBEX project, and to engineer the ecosystem kits featured on this site. By choosing to use these links, you are actively supporting independent citizen science.