Cleaning A Densley Planted Aquarium

[MegaZerino]

I'm going to be filling my tank with plants in a couple of weeks (65litres, 15 gallons), if i plant a carpet plant and it becomes difficult to clean the floor without damaging the plants, and also if i have a cluster of plants at the back and cant actually get to the floor, is there a way of cleaning the substrate (sand) without greatly disturbing the plants??? thanks

 

[Juggler75]

From what I hear, with enough flow, the sand doesn't ever need a great deal of cleaning as the waste does not get through any gaps in the substrate but sits on the surface and the flow directs it to the outtake. I'm finding it hard to direct the flow in mine however, so have a lot of collection at other points as well as the outake, although it does make it easier to clean. As long as its not excessive wouldn't a little waste in the plants act as a fertiliser of sorts?

 

[fluttermoth]

I have a heavily palnted tank and it can be a problem. You just have to do the best you can with your gravel cleaner; don't dig into the sand too deeply, or you'll suck it all up! Keep it a little way above and hopefully most of the poop will come out.
A plain piece of pipe, rather than a proper gravel cleaner works best; it 'sucks' more and can get into the nooks and crannies that the larger gravel cleaners can't.

Do remember that if you have lots of plants they'll use most of the poo and as long as you're not overfeeding (so the poo is just poo and not rotting food) mulm isn't very harmful.

 

[Juggler75]

That's put my mind at ease anyway then I'll stop trying to get the perfect flow direction, and clean up the larger piles of poo rather than get every last bit.

 

[MegaZerino]

Thanks guys, i already have a gravel filter but the nozel is detatchable so i can remove it and it will just be a tube, im guessing that will do, thanks for the help

 

[trianglekitty]

Thanks guys, i already have a gravel filter but the nozel is detatchable so i can remove it and it will just be a tube, im guessing that will do, thanks for the help

Follow up question to the OP's, as I'm switching to sand- I understand you need to stir the sand to avoid gas pockets. What's the best way to do this if the tank is densely planted?

 

[MegaZerino]

Thanks guys, i already have a gravel filter but the nozel is detatchable so i can remove it and it will just be a tube, im guessing that will do, thanks for the help

Follow up question to the OP's, as I'm switching to sand- I understand you need to stir the sand to avoid gas pockets. What's the best way to do this if the tank is densely planted?

did a quick google and found this site http/www.aquariumadvice.com/articles/articles/36/1/So-You-Want-a-Planted-Aquarium-/Page1.html if you go to "The Substrate" section, it tells you to make a sand bed about 3 inches deep and also buying Malaysian Trumpet Snails that burrow an stir up the sand. i think that is what im going to do but i will probably make it about 2 inches and a half with half an inch of sand

 

[Juggler75]

I use mts for this reason with assassins to keep population under control.

 

[tmh0921]

I agree - MTS are GREAT substrate cleaners. Most of the time you never see them as they burrow into the substrate, but if you look after lights out you'll see them on the surface of the substrate or on the glass. They won't harm plants, and as long as you don't overfeed, they will self maintain their populations. Also, they are live bearers! Baby MTS are smaller than a grain of rice.

 

[Mowbz]

Thanks guys, i already have a gravel filter but the nozel is detatchable so i can remove it and it will just be a tube, im guessing that will do, thanks for the help

Follow up question to the OP's, as I'm switching to sand- I understand you need to stir the sand to avoid gas pockets. What's the best way to do this if the tank is densely planted?

Manual agitation of the sand isnt necessary. "Some" claim the gas pockets that build up in sand are toxic to fish. There isnt any evidence to support it. Most experienced aquarists will tell you its a form of Hydrogen and Sulphur, the result of anaerobic breakdown of waste. (Rotting without oxygen, basically)

It stinks like rotton eggs and will turn your sand black where it happens, but its not harmful to your fish.

 

[MegaZerino]

I agree - MTS are GREAT substrate cleaners. Most of the time you never see them as they burrow into the substrate, but if you look after lights out you'll see them on the surface of the substrate or on the glass. They won't harm plants, and as long as you don't overfeed, they will self maintain their populations. Also, they are live bearers! Baby MTS are smaller than a grain of rice.

im probably gonig to get some MTSs, someone said to help control the population to get some assassin snails, is this a good idea?? and also will the snails be compatable with otos?

 

[trianglekitty]

I agree - MTS are GREAT substrate cleaners. Most of the time you never see them as they burrow into the substrate, but if you look after lights out you'll see them on the surface of the substrate or on the glass. They won't harm plants, and as long as you don't overfeed, they will self maintain their populations. Also, they are live bearers! Baby MTS are smaller than a grain of rice.

That just makes me nervous because I previously had a population explosion of pond snails that came in on some live plants. It was quite bad for a time, but then I more heavily planted the tank and they died off, probably because the plants were using up the nutrients. I have an assassin, but he seems to hibernate...he'll stay in the same spot under my driftwood for literal months, then suddenly go roving the tank for a week, then retreat back under the driftwood. So I'm rather hesitate about purposely adding a fast breeding snail

 

[trianglekitty]

Thanks guys, i already have a gravel filter but the nozel is detatchable so i can remove it and it will just be a tube, im guessing that will do, thanks for the help

Follow up question to the OP's, as I'm switching to sand- I understand you need to stir the sand to avoid gas pockets. What's the best way to do this if the tank is densely planted?

Manual agitation of the sand isnt necessary. "Some" claim the gas pockets that build up in sand are toxic to fish. There isnt any evidence to support it. Most experienced aquarists will tell you its a form of Hydrogen and Sulphur, the result of anaerobic breakdown of waste. (Rotting without oxygen, basically)

It stinks like rotton eggs and will turn your sand black where it happens, but its not harmful to your fish.

Okay...that sounds really unattractive. Does this commonly happen (the sand turning black and stinking?), and how do you fix it when it does? I'm rethinking switching to sand now...I'm very sensitive to odor, and if I smelled that I would probably vomit.

 

[Louiseness]

Okay...that sounds really unattractive. Does this commonly happen (the sand turning black and stinking?), and how do you fix it when it does? I'm rethinking switching to sand now...I'm very sensitive to odor, and if I smelled that I would probably vomit.

I've usually found that sand only turns black when it's under, say, a big decoration or rock that I haven't moved for ages. But, I have cories and they nuzzle the sand about just fine, plus plant roots help too. If you;re really, really bothered (although there's no need) you can stir the sand about with a spoon or stick or whatever whenever you change water. It's really not a big issue.

 

[KISSfn]

Or buy black sand!