Barnacle Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Those of you with plenty of plants in your tank, do you vacume the gravel with waterchanges or just leave all the crap in there? Since setting my tank up in march, i haven't once vac'd the gravel, and its also the 1st time i've had any sort of success with plants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Godly3vil Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I use sand so not really too keen on vacuuming loads of it out, I just make sure there is enough water flow to make sure all the "crap" is moved around enough to be picked up from my filters. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sophia Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I vac gently between the plants occasionally, and otherwise just stir up the gunk and siphon it off Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caryl Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 I hold the tube so it sucks up the surface crud so it doesn't get disturbed all the time as the fish rummage through the plants at ground level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Gravel Vacum in Planted Tanks! NEVER! :sage: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GrahamC Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Would you remove fertilizer from plant roots? If your tank is lightly planted I believe it's okay to vacuum well away from the roots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SamH Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 If your tank is lightly planted I believe it's okay to vacuum well away from the roots. I agree. Never vacuum around the roots but any bare inert substrate can be vacuumed if you wish. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikerbabe Posted October 9, 2012 Report Share Posted October 9, 2012 Brilliant.. this is exactly the same question I was going to ask!! thanks Barnicle Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 Gravel Vacum in Planted Tanks! NEVER! :sage: +1 I never vacuum, risks releasing all the good stuff into the water column (hate it when i have to uproot a plant and all the detritus clouds the water!!). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F15hguy Posted October 10, 2012 Report Share Posted October 10, 2012 I onlt gravel clean the clear areas leaving about 5cm clear space around the plants then if needed just stir up the gravel in between with a finger while holding the siphon abouve them to suck out anything that gets disturbed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
simwiz Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 I would say, that all depends on how you fertilize and how many fish you have in your tank - a dirty gravel is not a good thing to have. I normally vacum the mosses and riccia mostly, but also the gravel. I add liquid fertiliser, which helps me better to keep a good healthy nutrition for my plants. If you are into nature aquariums (the natural), then never vacum gravel Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Li@m Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Another reason to not Gravel Vac is cause I'm too lazy :lol: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zuri_08 Posted October 13, 2012 Report Share Posted October 13, 2012 Brilliant.. this is exactly the same question I was going to ask!! thanks Barnicle same... I don't vacuum (I had only guessed you didn't need to if water chemistry is healthy) and my plants are growing very fast! I guess whatever works is what you do :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
#!CrunchBang Posted October 15, 2012 Report Share Posted October 15, 2012 I vac in the open areas and around the edges of rocks to release gases in the sand, but leave around plants so the roots aren't disturbed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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