Short People with Big Tanks -- Maintenance Question

[Salty Lemon]

Ha! I'm 5' 10" or used to be...argh. I'm an inch shorter than in my prime now according to my PCP... lol, and it was hard as can be when up to a just a few years back got wet every time I did main on my 300T. My youngest son of 6' 4" never did need a step up (and still doesn't) whenever he came to spend the day and help me...his older brother of 6' 5" just laughed and said I got it pops.

Love, love, love the photo! Adorable little girl. My 15-year-old son grew three inches between September and December. I'll make sure he keeps going. Although I doubt he will make it to 6'4" or 6'5" like your boys. Holy cow! You grow tall ones. ;Woot

 

[Salty Lemon]

I am similar in height and after acquiring my 360g with is 32" deep, I when setting tank up broke 3 ribs on right side and two on left side bending over the top to get coral pieces in place. These two tools below became my best friend. Made for aquarium use and NO metal parts. I rinse after EVERY use

I have grabbers, but not as nice as these. Do you know what brand they are.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I love his walk board and he has like 400 gallon ish system? he's great at customization probably could build you something

LOL! I'll give him a call and see if he could get right on it.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I too have a tall tank (40in). I bought the gorilla ladder as previously suggested and some tongs. Home depot has this stuff.

Thanks Randy...It looks like I may be going shopping at my local hardware store this weekend.

 

[lapin]

So here is my method of adding heavy big rock to my tank. Get some towels. Place one in the bottom of the tank. Wrap the rock in another towel and holding on to the ends lower it down into the tank. My rocks weighted 25 to 45 lbs. You need to place them working from far to near.
And if your not thinking about lighting before your tank is in place (who me?) you lay on your back on top of the tank on a futon and try not to fall asleep.

Holes in top of tank for rock.

Futon for sleeping.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I love the idea of that platform in the video, but watching him handle and move it gave me a panic attack. I imagined the metal posts banging into the glass or house walls. If I was designing a standing shelf I would use something like this heavy duty drawer slide instead:
https://www.ovisonline.com/350Mm-13...ess-Steel-Drawer-Slide-53-Mm-244Lb-P2512.aspx
I built some shelves for my canning food with a heavy duty slide like this. Those can hold 300lbs at 36" extension. I stood on one at the edge while fully extended and it was very solid. Some of them can lock when extended (that would be advisable for this application) the version I linked doesn't. But it is Stainless and marine rated. A better search could probably find one that locks. A lock would not be difficult to design if you can't find a version that locks (like add a standard barrel bolt, etc..)


I'm 6'2" and still need a step ladder sometimes. If/when I design another stand for a bigger tank I am totally doing this!

@Diznaster I'm getting all sorts of ideas from this post. I'm thinking a stand with a pull out plank and storage drawers where I can keep my spaghetti sauce and canning supplies that are stocked in my pantry! Oooooh....I could put two hobbies into one here. Seriously though, I love the shelves. They look great.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I Just throw my baby in tell him to grab that.

@DEWreefing this may be the best idea I've read! I have a nine-month-old nephew so this might just work. But before I go to my family to ask them for help with this fantastic idea, I have a couple questions for you about this method...

• Do you use waterproof diapers or just toss him in?
• Do the dirty diapers affect water testing parameters or doesn't it matter all that much?
• Do you feed the fish first before you put the baby in the tank or do you just put band-aids on the boy or bring him to urgent care after?
• Training...how do you go about it? Or do you just poke him in the right direction.
• How long can he hold his breath under water?
• How did you convince your spouse about this idea?
• This is an amazing idea. ;Woot

 

[Salty Lemon]

I suddenly feel stupid for trying to explain to my 3yr old why she can't help me clean the tank. Mom is going to love my plan for this weekend!

Love it.

 

[Salty Lemon]

If you can't reach the bottom in the front try reaching the back in a 30 tall by 30 deep. I also have a low ceiling in the room where my tank is and a tall stand.

Yikes! Time to remodel.

 

[Salty Lemon]

I’ve always used plastic long handles gripper tools as I’m only 5ft 4 and the tank is quite high. I’m so adept now, I bet I could do a laparoscopic operation easily! My family are used to me perching on one foot on a chair . Tip - ladies and gentlemen with long hair - remember to tie it back when leaning into the tank. I hate having dripping wet salty hair especially as I saw what my snails were up to the other day .

I have hope for my grabbers. Ditto with long hair problems. I have to clean the tank in a ponytail and tank-top. I still get soaked.

 

[Salty Lemon]

So here is my method of adding heavy big rock to my tank. Get some towels. Place one in the bottom of the tank. Wrap the rock in another towel and holding on to the ends lower it down into the tank. My rocks weighted 25 to 45 lbs. You need to place them working from far to near.
And if your not thinking about lighting before your tank is in place (who me?) you lay on your back on top of the tank on a futon and try not to fall asleep.

Holes in top of tank for rock.

Futon for sleeping.

@lapin LOL! This is awesome! I need to go buy a futon. Would an air mattress work? How about a bunch of pillows? ;Hilarious

 

[Chuckstyr]

If reaching the bottom is the problem, a stool will help you use these, so you can reach the bottom.
Amazon: AquaticHI Aquarium Tongs 27 inch (70 cm), 100% Reef Safe
or

Coralife Aqua Tongs

 

[lapin]

I use a snake tong/grabber . Its 50 " and now it has 2 uses.

 

[vetteguy53081]

I have grabbers, but not as nice as these. Do you know what brand they are.

one on the right is petco.com and the left is Dr Fosters and Smith By Kent marine

 

[Captain Quint]

Love, love, love the photo! Adorable little girl. My 15-year-old son grew three inches between September and December. I'll make sure he keeps going. Although I doubt he will make it to 6'4" or 6'5" like your boys. Holy cow! You grow tall ones. ;Woot

Thank you. It is nice to be retired and be with her (the youngest) as much as I am. I don't understand something though. My oldest daughter is not tall, my youngest is tall, my youngest son is really tall and my oldest son was really, really tall.

I used to joke with my wife about 'the mailman'. lol

 

[Diznaster]

Here is another idea for cleaning glass. This is the "Kit" but you can buy parts individual. The swivel head mop works good, I've been using it for months.

https://www.marinedepot.com/Continu...ts-Continuum_Aquatics-4C4163-FIMTASAC-vi.html

I've tried a few Mag Float type cleaners and they just don't get me what I need. They can't get the top edge because it hits the hood, I'm afraid of going low and picking up sand to scratch the glass. With this and the "mop" I do everything within a few inches of the sand quickly like a whirling dervish. Then I go around the bottom and I can lift it and shake it after every each stroke so I know I'm not dragging sand on the glass. I usually try not to touch the sand anyways. Then I switch to the metal blade (they make a plastic one for acrylic also). I scrape off any obvious coralline spots and get the last of what I might have missed along the sand line (scape down, lift, scrape down lift, repeat...). I bought one that was a little longer than needed, longer should be better... I ran into an issue where I kept hitting the ceiling at the top. So I pulled off the rubber grippy handle and found it was a solid fiberglass rod. Did a quick measure and cut off a couple inches. Put handle gripper back, now it is perfect custom length.

One thing I've been wishing I had was something like a slotted spoon on the end of the long stick. For scooping snail shells and such off the sand. I can design an attachment for this and 3D print a prototype. I haven't done it mostly because it seemed like a small need for me. I can go armpit deep and get it. I'd rather not do that, I had to do it just now and if my daughter wasn't in bed I might have tossed her in the tank. Thinking about someone like you where it is much harder to reach the bottom, I'll work on it. If I get something that I like and it works well I'll send you a copy to beta test.

The 35" at BRS https://www.bulkreefsupply.com/35-aquablade-aquarium-scraper-continuum.html

 

[Katrina71]

I have hope for my grabbers. Ditto with long hair problems. I have to clean the tank in a ponytail and tank-top. I still get soaked.

Me too!!! My Christmas wish list included hair clips for this exact reason! Is it just me, or does that first frontal dip feel more like 50 instead of 78?

 

[Saveafish]

Cvs Walgreens. Look for the reachers. Buy the toilet seat helpers. I use them. The reachers not the toilet seat helpers. ;Facepalm

 

[Saveafish]

I have hope for my grabbers. Ditto with long hair problems. I have to clean the tank in a ponytail and tank-top. I still get soaked.

I pony tail too.

 

[Salty Lemon]

If reaching the bottom is the problem, a stool will help you use these, so you can reach the bottom.
Amazon: AquaticHI Aquarium Tongs 27 inch (70 cm), 100% Reef Safe
or

Coralife Aqua Tongs

Oooh! They would work great!