Do You Remove Rocks And Caves While Doing Clean Ups?

[nukeonekitty]

While vacuming your tank out or just moving the gravel around do you remove the rocks/caves/decorations to get under them?

 

[gaz guildford]

i dunno about everyone else but personally i remove everything except gravel while i vacume or else all the dirt and poh just sits in the caves and between rocks and all youll have is clean outter edges wich isnt so good for the water quality

 

[BiffMalawi]

I ahve about 50 pounds of rock in my africans tank and I vacuum around it one a week and then remove everything and reaarange them every month at least sometimes more. I am very carfeful with food amounts and do 40% water changes. I don't find that the dirt builds up to badly. I wouldn't leave it more than 3 or 4 weeks though.

 

[denis coghlan]

The only reason I would remove rock from my tank is too catch fish, other wise it is impossible. During the cleaning process I just work around the bottoms of the rocks and it seems to do the trick. I think a certain amount of fish crap in the tank in acceptable. You know what they say!!

Out of sight, out of mind!!!

 

[Fillet 'O' Fish]

I dont move my rocks as the gravel under is always clean. After all no fish waste or uneaten food can fall there if the rock is on the gravel right?

 

[nukeonekitty]

I am sure I will remove the rocks like once a month just to get under them and make my tank as clean as possible...

 

[gaz guildford]

waste builds up between the rocks not under them or you could slip the hose pipe between the rocks to get to the bottom

 

[nukeonekitty]

My vac is too wide for that... I don't mind removing the rocks, I have an agression issue right now so a little relocation would be good!

 

[dthoffsett]

I have 160lbs of rock in my tank, no way am I moving that. I use a Python system (basically a hose attached to the tap) so when filling it back up, I pull the large vacuum end off the hose, and spray it between all the rocks, presto poo is off the rocks, and the filters take care of the rest.

 

[jayjay]

Yeah, I water change and gravel vac open area once or twice a week and clean filters etc. at the same time. Then once a month I remove everything for a better cleaning.

 

[nrritchieoct02]

Well u see, thats why u should research these things, just so u know!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


But seens how ur asking, YES always remove, that way the gravel gets a better cleaning and it clears up most of the s**t which could cause fin ulcers on bottom feeders.

Oh and make sure u clean the gravel out and wash prop at least every 4 mnth or so. just for health promo reasons.

 

[Nick Sw]

I gravel vac/syphon the crud and poo away everyweek, I don`t take the rocks fully out everyweek I`d probably have a nervous breakdown doing that with every water change. When I re-scape I get a bit more out but I don`t think there is any need to.

If your Nitrates were high then maybe you might find the need to take the rocks out and have a clean up if not I don`t see the problem.

 

[nukeonekitty]

Thank you everyone! VERY helpful!

 

[adambrum]

I cant even get gravel between my rocks someone keeps digging it out, every time i vac the gravel the fish just move it out from the rocks. But seriously i just attach a piece of pipe to my outlet and blow the poo out.

 

[mr.dark-saint]

As a quick clean no removal of rocks but the "Spring" cleaning yes. I've been meaning to do the 100 gallon with my big pooper (African Lungfish).