Those with deep tanks how do you reach the bottom?

[Bthomas]

I've just begun starting to stock my tank with corals and I'm realizing that it's near impossible for me to reach the bottom of the tank to place anything down low..
So how do you folks that have deep tanks (mine is about 30 inches deep) reach the bottom for coral placement?
I have long plastic tweezers but they can only do so much

 

[User1]

30" tall here - so know your pain. I have an aluminum painters ladder that I use. Any solid and in good condition step stool or ladder will get you the height. Outside of that you are going to have to roll up your sleeves. On tank maintenance days don't wear deodorant because chances are high you will be up to your elbows and shoulders easy depending on what you are doing. I also keep a pair of shoulder length gloves that I got off of Amazon and another pair from the feed store on the days I know I'm going to be reaching around the back or for longer periods of time.

That is really about it to be honest. Just think on the days you are going to do something and prepare outside the ladder or stool.

Edit: Picture from April 15th when I moved my 40 breeder into the 210 tall. Not a great picture but there is depth and height that make it a challenge at times.

 

[Whiskyclown]

My tank is 24" tall and i use a fishing rod to the corals from the sand bed and its still hard theres so little space

 

[Bthomas]

30" tall here - so know your pain. I have an aluminum painters ladder that I use. Any solid and in good condition step stool or ladder will get you the height. Outside of that you are going to have to roll up your sleeves. On tank maintenance days don't wear deodorant because chances are high you will be up to your elbows and shoulders easy depending on what you are doing. I also keep a pair of shoulder length gloves that I got off of Amazon and another pair from the feed store on the days I know I'm going to be reaching around the back or for longer periods of time.

That is really about it to be honest. Just think on the days you are going to do something and prepare outside the ladder or stool.

Edit: Picture from April 15th when I moved my 40 breeder into the 210 tall. Not a great picture but there is depth and height that make it a challenge at times.

I may have to look into getting some sort of ladder. I usually stand on the kitchen chair but even with that and putting my arm up to my shoulder into the tank I still can't reach the bottom.
It's been fine until now with just doing maintenance but placing corals where I want them is an issue..

 

[User1]

Yeah - I would look for a proper height step stool or painters ladder. Both can be tucked away but give you the height to be above the top of the tank or at least have it at waist level so you can bend over and reach. Really is key - but you need a stable platform to work safely on.

 

[Fin]

The problem is bad enough reaching the bottom in the front. Reaching the bottom in the back is a whole other story. My 140 was 30" deep and 24" front to back. First of all, a good step ladder or stool is essential. I used 10" long stainless steel forceps for most things and an assortment of long DIY tools with hooks or other shapes needed. I posted one of the tools the other day in a thread about poking sticks. It is made from a length of hollow rigid air line tubing. I passed some doubled up monofiliment fishing line through the tube, leaving a loop on one end and enough of the line hanging out the other end to cinch the loop around whatever I need to retrieve. Works pretty well to pick up frags in the depths toward the back of the tank.

 

[tdileo]

I take my shirt off and reach all the way in and line the floor with towels because I come out wet all the way up to my neck and it drops everywhere. By stretching my fingers to their absolute furthest I can reach the sandbed.

 

[User1]

@Fin solid idea on the tool. I'll have to borrow that. I had something similar has a kid that I used to catch fence lizards and snakes. Thanks for sharing.

 

[TJ's Reef]

I use a Werner painter's platform, about a 36"×12" platform 18" up and or a folding step stool. My tank is a 187g 60"×24"×30" sitting on a 36" high stand. Packed full of Corals and use many of the techniques and preparations above.

 

[Bthomas]

I take my shirt off and reach all the way in and line the floor with towels because I come out wet all the way up to my neck and it drops everywhere. By stretching my fingers to their absolute furthest I can reach the sandbed.

I thought I had pretty long arms but even when I'm armpit deep into the tank I'm still a good 6 inches from being able to reach the bottom.
That being said I'm not even sure a taller ladder will help.. I can only reach as far as my arms will go
It doesn't help that the canopy adds a couple inches to the height of the tank..

 

[Maggie321]

Stainless silicone tipped tongs and long tweezers.

 

[norfolkgarden]

Lol, Get proficient with an "old people" grab-it stick.
Or the specialty tongs for aquariums.
Or just the aquarium stainless steel tongs.

Once you are good with the grabber its jusy a matter of not smacking something when it's open. [emoji53]
It's smaller when it is closed. [emoji17]

Oh yeah, everything but the tongs hold water.
The grabber holds about a glass.
Put down lots of towels before and have some available for later. [emoji17]

I thought the metal snake thing would be great.
But it's lousy and had a grease/oil coating on it.
And it rusts even with rinsing everything right afterwards.

 

[ca1ore]

I just have a few stainless surgical tongs (bought off amazon) with some silicone airline tubing pushed onto the ends. I have a 12 inch straight, 12 inch curved and 18 inch straight. Allows me to reach every spot in the tank (which is 36" deep and 30" tall).

 

[dede]

I would fix your canopy so whole front piece can be either removed or is on hinges where you can flip it up for better access. It will make working on your tank a lot easier the using the small access doors in the front.

 

[rsljr81]

Get a flipper cleaning magnet, it'll be your best friend. Makes removing stubborn coraline and algae spot removal easier. Definitely a good ladder stable ladder and a small foldable step stool for daily use. Once your params are stable you should spend less time in the water. Your live stock might keep you busy also, I got 3 tangs who are constantly chasing each other breaking and knocking over corals.

 

[cracker]

My latest build is a 180 from a 220 for this very reason. I'm not as young as I was & it's just easier. These days I roll up my shirt sleeves & use a wooden clothespins to hold it. Sometimes I forget they are there & go to the store. Why do You have clothes pins on your shirt sleeve,? they ask .
This goes hand in hand with the poking stick article. Several pics of handy sticks peeps have devised to move things just out of reach !

 

[Pntbll687]

I have a deep sea Aquatics tank, and it's 30" tall. I mitigated the height by simply using 200lbs of live sand and have a 4-6" sand bed.

Oh, and I use a grabber thing. And pretty much keep maintenance to a minimum. Last water change was about 5 months ago. Haven't added any corals lower than half way in a long time.

 

[Powder Blue]

30" tall here - so know your pain. I have an aluminum painters ladder that I use. Any solid and in good condition step stool or ladder will get you the height. Outside of that you are going to have to roll up your sleeves. On tank maintenance days don't wear deodorant because chances are high you will be up to your elbows and shoulders easy depending on what you are doing. I also keep a pair of shoulder length gloves that I got off of Amazon and another pair from the feed store on the days I know I'm going to be reaching around the back or for longer periods of time.

That is really about it to be honest. Just think on the days you are going to do something and prepare outside the ladder or stool.

Edit: Picture from April 15th when I moved my 40 breeder into the 210 tall. Not a great picture but there is depth and height that make it a challenge at times.

Got to agree mine is 65cm deep then the aquarum stand another 90cm make getting to the bottom a real pain. As said I use a step ladder too. Shirt off and get wet. Good thinking about the deodorant though I never thought about that.

 

[Reefin Dude]

i have one of the 3 prong grabbing sticks. i was only able to find them on AliExpress. i find i use this a lot more than the 2 pronged grabbing sticks. great for placing corals with plugs.

G~

 

[norfolkgarden]

i have one of the 3 prong grabbing sticks. i was only able to find them on AliExpress. i find i use this a lot more than the 2 pronged grabbing sticks. great for placing corals with plugs.

G~

Nice!

Next toy.