seeking recommendations for tools or methods for scaping tall tank

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
anarekist

anarekist

Jack Dempsey
MFK Member
Apr 4, 2011
2,177
9
38
Los Angeles
hey, my tank is way too tall! 30"
i realized this when i dropped a bulkhead in there while the tank was sitting on the floor and i could barely reach in and grab it, i thought i would have to do some macgyver shnaz.

now that the tank is on the stand it'll be even harder, anyone got some good tip? maybe some tools i could use? i need to safely lower some rather heavy drift wood and rocks into there. i was looking at coralife aquatongs but the reviews said it's unable to lift heavy objects.

pic for refrence
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Plastic bends and flexes too much for the algae scrapers I have purchased at the pet stores. I ended up making my own algae scraper with a sturdy hardwood dowel and a block of wood. I cut a slot in the hardwood so I could pinch a scotch bright like pad for cleaning dishes (Walmart I think).

For heavy pieces of driftwood / rocks... a step stool and sleeveless T shirt is my best recommendation. All the tongs like devices I have seen have been worthless.

My tank is a 110G tall... which is also 30" tall.
 
Make sure the tank is on a sturdy stand, have someone get in the tank (lower the water first if its already filled) and then hand them the rocks and wood.
 
Something like a sheet or towel might work. Fill the tank up, then set the driftwood on the center of the sheet and lower into tank, then slowly roll it out from underneath. Then you can use some kind of pole to roll it into place/push it around to where you want it.
 
your tank is not too tall. I love 30" tall tanks.

for mine I use a step stool, slope things so that you have more substrate at the back then at the front.

what this allows you to do is reach the bottom of the back of the tank easier to plant stuff.

I use an old credit card as an algae scraper. you can reach in htere and scrub it all

there is also tools available (reach assists) to help you at your LFS
 
The previous owner of my 110g tank had an under gravel filter in it. He gave me the filter with the tank. He never actually connected up the under gravel filter he just used as a cushion to keep the heavy rocks from being in direct contact with the tank bottom.

I like the front to back sloping media also... too bad my cichlids don't care for it! :-)

Taking another look at your tank I see you have it much worse than I do. My tank is glass and doesn't have that really wide top rim an acrylic tank has.
 
At walmart they have those tongs to pick up things in the "As Seen on TV" section that work perfect for this and they are made of medal to be more sturdy and cost about $10-$15. They are usually located in the as seen on tv section or pharmacy or garden center :) Good luck and they look something like this:

412cObia0PL._SL500_AA300_.jpg

412cObia0PL._SL500_AA300_.jpg
 
That's a wierld looking stand...

My 30in tall tank is a hassel as well...I use the grab tool to get stuff. Unfortunately, it is impossible for me to remove a harrassed fish without significantly draining the tank so often times, all I could do is remove cadavers.
 
hi just sayin,,your tank looks unsafe on that,,u need to have cross members to stop it from falling down also you would get 100% more streangh if you built accross the top of the uprights,,,,
 
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