Ok, so my Oscars paired-off, laid eggs, hatched, and did so claiming the left half of the tank. Tankmates, except Convict Cichlids, raising their fry bunkered in -repositioned courtesy by Oscars- their driftwood like decor cave, are in the other half of the tank: apparently paired-off (not confirmed) Severums (Gold & Green) and two still young but maturing Kenyi (housed there temporarily for some time already) male and female.

A driftwood in the mid-zone of the tank -repositioned again courtesy of Oscars- is already claimed by the male Kenyi, and the first ever conquered territory belongs to the Severums, in the right end of the tank.

Since I have fry in the tank -and I intend to keep my interference at minimum and let tank-nature take its course, I tried to perform vacuum substrate in the less hostile section of the tank, ergo the right half.

Well, I don't see any eggs there, but the Severums got after me -kind of like the Oscars did last Saturday. It's not that they are easy-going, but usually they get out of the way displaying their discomfort for being intruded, but that's about it. The Gold Severum pushed and tried to bite-away the vacuum tube and my holding hand. At this point I removed "inefficiently" some solid waste and retreated, not without rearranging some deep sand areas -I'm aware of gas pockets. I couldn't do tank maintenance as to feel comfortable on the water short term stability.

Maybe they are just stressed due the Oscars' being parents and restricting path towards the whole tank; maybe they keep on their essay of pairing-off (they have displayed friendly lip-locking before), still they seem quite young, maybe 6" each, and they are still going through color changes, and I can't believe I could get fry there too. How am I going to keep that tank clean?

Should I leave it be? Would more frequent partial water changes be wise since no substrate vacuuming is welcomed in the tank? Should I not read their signs and do the vacuuming anyhow I can?

Water conditions have not deteriorated -yet, but very likely, they will.
Ammonia 0, Nitrites 0, Nitrates 10-25ppm.

Expecting your suggestions and comments

Pepe
Santo Domingo

Not totally sure but i myself wouldnt vac. i think this could stress so would only change water with little stress as poss maybe do a extra if needed. I have never had fry but this would be my way of doing things. well done so far.)))