Cleaning a percentage of gravel

[Metermaid]

I have a lot of rock work in my Mbuna tank - all tests are fine, I am doing 30% water change weekly and use a siphon type gravel cleaner - this always sucks a fair amount of 'muck' up but I am concerned about what is left behind in the rest of the gravel (I am probably only getting to around half of it) - I don't want to re-arrange my rockwork every time I clean as this will upset territories ! - what do others do?

Cheers

Rita

 

[G_Sharky]

Vacuum whatever you could..It would be fine as long as you keep your regular water changes...I never take my rocks out, that would be like 3-4 hours of work if I do that every week....Just make sure you have a lot of water movement so all the dirt won't get stock on your gravel...putting a powerhead in your tank would be a good way to circulate the water so the filter suction could catch it....

 

[Blue Lobster]

One way to get the muck out of the rocks is to pour the new water into the tank over them to "Wash out" the crevices. A powerhead will blast out the junk like a powerwasher and if done just before a water change will help remove the junk.

 

[petey Z]

yea just make sure to keep up the weekly water changes. I never take out my rocks either, it would be to much trouble.

 

[freddyk]

I would never 'never' clean out behind the rocks, you'll be disgusted by what builds up there. If you can, remove your rocks in portions, once every few water changes, to get behind. If the rocks are set up so it's an 'all or none' routine, try spending that 3 or 4 hours a couple of times per year to get behind. The fish will will re-adjust, the mix of territories will spice things up for a while.