Curious

[starrynightxxi]

so i'm wanting to do my first planted tank, but i'm curious, is it not necessary to vac the gravel anymore when live plants are added, or do i have to be careful about disturbing root systems?

 

[Ginge]

It is still needed i think. DOnt forget fish poo still stays on the substrate.

 

[b.c.f.c]

i hardly ever gravel vac were plants are at there most, i only gravel vac the open gravel parts of my tank were you can see most gravel (which is mainly at the front of my tank)
this is because it is far too much carful work and i most the time end up messing up my tank which isnt a great thing as i can never get it how it was befor i started messing around .but id say every 6 months i tend to gravel vac the whole tank just to clean it up a bit as it will start to get a bit mucky.

 

[Neal]

It depends on how you stock your tank, although some may disagree with me, others may agree. If you have a small group of shoaling fish then i'd say you can get away with not vac'ing it as it's used as a plant fertiliser if you have enough plants. There was a topic about something like this a while back, and lots of people had different opinions. If you post your stocking it may give us a better idea on how to supply you with an answer.

Neal

 

[craynerd]

if you gravel vac gently then you should not at all disturb the root systems. Besides even if you did a little, they should get over it

Chris

 

[starrynightxxi]

well, it's not set up yet, but the current stocking plan is
20 (US) gallon high:
- 6 neons
- 6 black neons
- asst'd. shrimp

 

[Neal]

I think you may get away with no having to vac the gravel, aslong as you don't overfeed. The shrimp will take any leftovers or anything they think is food, and the waste which will not be alot as you have small fish and not that many will be used as a plant fertiliser, maybe you could do one every few months on the substrate parts where the plants aren't there.

Neal

 

[starrynightxxi]

thanks for the replies

while i'm sure i will figure this out as i go along, is there a specific way to acuum the ravel without destroying the plants, or is just a matter of being gentle?

 

[Graeme Edwards]

Have you read all the pinned articles?

 

[Qays]

Vaccuum once monthly in areas where the roots arnt

 

[starrynightxxi]

i browsed through those that seemed like they might apply to the situation at hand. saw something about lifting out java moss and vacuuming under it, but that doesn't apply to rooted plants really.

thanks Qays

 

[Qays]

Java moss is usually grown on a rock or driftwood, so you just pick up the rock or driftwood and vaccum underneath it.