Cleaning monster tank

[Madou]

Hey guys

As I am still in the thinking and preparing to get my big tank with real monsters (I'm pretty dead set on 2-3 diplos), I keep coming up with questions, which usually find answers pretty easilly (most of them answered by D -DC- , thanks for that, Devon ), but this is one I am kind of iffy about.

How do you clean your BIG monsters tank? And I am asking the question to the lucky owners of the bigger species here. I know when I clean my Auranti tank, they sometimes surprise me with a few nibbles, which are harmless (Once cut the skin, but never went through, so it's actually quite a fun experience). I am being very careful when cleaning my Erythrinus Erythrinus tank, because even though he's small, he's a real killer, but it is still pretty mellow. I've had piranhas, but I've never had hesitation when performing maintenance, they're skittish, and never came close to the hands...

But diplos and Micros, I can't see myself finding a "nibble" fun.

How do you do it? Divider? if so, I might want to have it built in so I just have to slide it in the middle, perform maintenance on one side, then the other, but there has to be less complicated ways...

Any idea/experience is appreciated.

 

[-DC-]

Lol very carefully !

I find Most fish won't outright attack if you stick your full arm in with confidence . They become intimidated and back off but If you hesitate or flinch they'll attack . For my more agressive ones I use a net in one hand as a target/distraction/shield. Some recognize it as a net and hide , the other more aggressive ones fight attack the net but back off when they can't "win" the fight.

 

[Madou]

My problem in that is the word "most".

Small diplos, I don't really mind. Adult diplos, I like my fingers attached to my hand.

I am really starting to consider a divider, which is feasible, as I don't have the tank built yet and can have it slide down the middle, as long as I don't put decoration there.

Though, I must say I might try the net trick with my Ery Ery, given he's already attacked it pretty often.

 

[convict360]

If you can, do the net trick DC mentions; even better if you can trust someone else to distract the fish with the net, while you clean

 

[Madou]

Guess I can give it a try when they'll be somewhat small...
I'm sure once I've done it once, it won't be as "scary" the following times.

And I don't trust anyone else for whatever it is that is about my fishes or my tanks! (Except moving, it gets heavy when you get over the 100 gallons mark ) Maybe that's why I'm single xD

 

[justarn]

You can do maintenence without putting your hands in, a little improvisation with some grabbers and garden cane....
Failing that possibly some kevlar gloves but that's a bit extreme, I've had 2ft micro ignore my arm, I wouldn't dangle my finger in tho lol...