There’s so much cool new, colorful and interesting things to see in our reef aquariums these days, if you don’t have at least one form of visual enhancement, you’re probably missing out on a lot. As acute observers of the marine aquarium realm, we’ve made it our mission to collect, test and try out just about every single viewing device ever made for the reef tank, and they all they have their merits.
The TMC AquaHabitat Spy Glass is one of the most practical and unobtrusive magnifying glasses you can entertain for an aquarium, fresh or marine. A simple twist-suction cup makes placing and re-placing the Spy Glass a cinch and the large glass loop allows for binocular focusing of reef and miniature reef life.
The D-D NanoScope is part microscope, part telescope, and all parts hella affordable. The option of using a suction cup mount or a tripod attachment makes the nanoscope a versatile tool for spying on neat critters in the aquarium either up close, or from a distance.
The ReefBrite Aquaviewer seems a little gimmicky at first, it’s just a basic magnifying glass with some LEDs bolted on but man oh man we can’t tell you how many times we use this little gizmo to sneak up on miniature reef life when the lights are turned off. Being able to switch between white or blue LED lighting really makes the Aquaviewer a wonderful tool, and it beautifully compliments what other viewing devices can do.
The IVS Portal Viewer is in a league of its own in terms of optics, field of view and depth of field. The extra large high clarity glass allows unparalleled binocular macroscopic examination of aquarium animals at a range of distances. When we want to show guests what we see when we look at aquarium corals, we whip out the Portal Viewer and delight in their “Ooohhs and Aaahhhs”.
The New Mesoscope is the big daddy of all aquarium viewers and having the first version released way back in 2005, this is the viewing tool that started it all. While the above viewers may be affordable accessories to buy on impulse, the Mesoscope 2 is a serious investment but it rewards its user with incredible detail and magnification that no other aquarium viewer can even match.
