How do you reach stuff in your large reefs?

[Aqualara]

Hi all!

This is my first post here, but I've been into planted tanks for over 4 years and I'm only sort of new to reefing. I had a 4g pico a couple of years ago that I had to take down, and now I currently have a 2g pico and a 40 breeder reef. So here's my question:

I would like to have a large reef in the future (200+ gallons). I'm a small girl and I'm wondering.... How do you clean and reach stuff at the back or bottom of a large tank (for example, 96x36x20, which is what I want)? Do you just jump in (LOL)? Does the tank have to be accessible from all four sides?

Thanks!

Lara

[Dragon moray ki]

There are these tong like grabbers that you can buy and i have heard about people getting in their tanks. Ohh and welcome to reef central.

[Playa-1]

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=41094
To Reef Central

You can use a grabber tool, or stand on a ladder and use long gloves and long arms to reach in and do what you gotta do. Sometimes you just gotta jump in there and take care of business ;)

http://www.reefcentral.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=84&pictureid=7118

[SKurj]

I'm not a big fan of the tall tanks (>24") but even then when a tank is wide as well yup it can be a challenge.

My next will likely be a 180, 6ft x 2ft x 2ft almost the perfect size I think... or maybe a 4ft x 3ft x 27" .... 27 is doable if I can get around 3 sides.

[Merasti]

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-adjifvRuRIY/T5QzdSngYFI/AAAAAAAAAwQ/f3iumspIPsw/s640/003.JPG

[Playa-1]

There's other long handle extension tools out there too. I prefer to work in a tank that not so deep that I can't reach the bottom with a step stool.

[Dragon moray ki]

I personally do not like the gloves because if you go into deep it will flood.

[Musbtr1pin]

What will flood?

[Reefmedic79]

<img src="/images/welcome.gif" width="500" height="62"><br><b><i><big><big>To Reef Central</b></i></big></big>

@Musbtr1pin, the inside of the glove

I personally don't every need to reach anything at the back of the tank unless something falls back there. I use a long tongs to pick them up. you can use a Kent Marine pro-scraper for scraping the back glass.

[ken55]

I've been known to use a really long pair of tongs. The type made for outdoor grilling.

I'm sure the tank tools pictured above are superior but sometimes you just have to improvise.:idea:

[clekchau]

i have a tank 36" high, tongs and stepstool

[crankbait]

There is no getting around that part its a Giant PITA!!!! My tank hood is very tall so going over and into the tank is a major job. Putting corals in my tank is a nightmare

[TucanSam007]

Part of the trade off with deep/huge tanks. Tongs are a life saver though :)

[dunc101]

The fun part is trying to frag a piece of coral that is on the sand bed in a deep tank ;). To make it even harder, try doing it in 30 inch deep with an in wall build and access only from the back of the tank. It was pretty interesting watch a friend of mine frag a piece of a cali tort without seeing what he was doing lol.

[reef4life07]

Long tongs and a boost will do the trick.

[husslr187]

What will flood?

the glove

EDIT: just realized this was already answered. got distracted by the welcome banner

[A. Henin]

I also found that the magnetic two pieces algae scrappers to be a life saver.

[big cats]

they make proper tools for the job, but I use just about anything in reach..cause the majority of the time you need those tools, they are never within reach..and no one is around to help you..lol

I have learned to keep long plastic kitchen utensils around my tanks just in case I bump something and it falls, or I'm movin around in there and see something that needs to come out..

best tool to get something out of a big tank, IMO it's your brain..

[Aqualara]

Thanks for all the answers!

That's kind of what I thought, but I was wondering if there was some sort of magic answer out there. That'll be something to think about when I upgrade to a large system.

[BigCountry74]

I take off my shirt. My wife then jumps me and drags me into the bedroom. I am beast like that...

:D
:D
:D

[kingevil]

if you have a small kid, you could throw them in there. i personally like shallow(er) tanks. for the most part, fish swim side-to-side not up and down.

[aleonn]

Long tong's and a tall ladder do the trick for me. Luckily, I don't have to mess around with my aqua-scape anymore so the fish and corals thank me for not invading their territory. I can't imagine having a 30" tall tank and very tall stand, though.

[dzfish17]

if you have a small kid, you could throw them in there. i personally like shallow(er) tanks. for the most part, fish swim side-to-side not up and down.

Are you sure?... get a tall tank and you'll find out that most fish will swim up and down as much as they swim side to side. Trust me, Im watching my fish right now. :thumbsup: