Cleaning Gravel

[LookingToLearn]

Hello all,
I have 2 golfish in a tank that is WAY too small (10gallon) and I am planning to start fishless cycling my new 55 gallon tank within the next few days. (my husband finished building my stand today! )

Since my fish are in such a small tank, and I had a major gravel issue which, I think, caused me to have to start my tanks cycle all over again (had to change my filter, wash out my aerobic sponge with tap water and throw away over half my gravel.. ), I have been doing 25% water changes in my tank every other day. I have been testing the water atleast once daily and my results are coming back 'safe' but I just want to error on the safe side so I have been doing the water changes anyway..

Now my question is: I have been cleaning the gravel with the siphon every time I do my water changes (EOD). Is that too much? Do you think that is delaying the colonization of the beneficial bacteria? How often should I clean my gravel out?

Thanx for any advice!

 

[Colin_T]

in an established tank you should gravel clean the gravel each time you do a water change. You don't have to do it all but try to do some each water change.
If you are running an Undergravel filter in a new tank then don't gravel clean it until the tank has cycled.
If you are running a powerfilter, or any other type of filter besides an undergravel filter, then you can gravel clean every day and it won't make any difference to the filter bacteria. The bacteria will be in the sponges and noodles in the filter. Some will live in the gravel but they are insignificant.

 

[LookingToLearn]

in an established tank you should gravel clean the gravel each time you do a water change. You don't have to do it all but try to do some each water change.
If you are running an Undergravel filter in a new tank then don't gravel clean it until the tank has cycled.
If you are running a powerfilter, or any other type of filter besides an undergravel filter, then you can gravel clean every day and it won't make any difference to the filter bacteria. The bacteria will be in the sponges and noodles in the filter. Some will live in the gravel but they are insignificant.

Thank you!