Full Planted Substrate.

[jonnyf84]

I am thinking of completely covering my substrate with plants, moss and short grass, but i am worried about how to clean the substrate without damaging the plants, how do i do this?

 

[dpcamp]

i've read that substrate doesn't really need to be cleaned like regular gravel does. just running the vacuum over the plants covering it should pick up any waste that hits the ground. that's what i've been doing with my tank

anyone else?

 

[jonnyf84]

to be honest i thought gravel was classed as substrate. My tank is gravel so how do you recommend i clean it when fully planted?

 

[Mikaila31]

You don't clean gravel in a well planted tank. You just prun the plants and remove any large loose or dead leaves. All the stuff that gets into your gravel will break donw and evertually be used by the plants. That said I've heard on people acually putting dead leaves under the substrate to provide plants with more nutrients. You will have gunk build up, its called mulm and its a inportant part in a planted tank. Don't be suprised if you pull up a plant and have a cloud of black stuff come out of the gravel, it will settle down again.

 

[jonnyf84]

good stuff, thanks, how do you grow the short grass in your tank?

 

[vinylman]

Have a look in the 'Plants And Planted Tanks' section,j, LOTS of good advice and knowledge there.