Gravel Cleaning

[SMITHAP]

I was given some advice by the LFS to clean the gravel using a pump every 2nd week and do a 3rd of the tank at a time so over a 6 week period it would all get done. If you follow me.

I was wondering how often other people pump the gravel and whether they do it all at once. Also do you remove plants and rocks etc or just go around them?

 

[kimbowee]

I clean my gravel every week when I do water changes. On my 33 gal I clean the gravel & water change twice a week. I change about 20-25% on both tanks every time I clean them. I don't use the pump gravel vaccuum. I use the standard gravel vaccuum.

 

[SMITHAP]

I clean my gravel every week when I do water changes. On my 33 gal I clean the gravel & water change twice a week. I change about 20-25% on both tanks every time I clean them. I don't use the pump gravel vaccuum. I use the standard gravel vaccuum.

So you don't divide the tank up into 3 and do a third at a time you do the whole tank every week?

 

[Durbkat]

Yeah on my tanks I just use the standard gravel cleaner and do it once a month and I do remove all plants and fish until I learned you are not supposed to remove the fish.

 

[chishnfips]

I try not to thoroughly clean my gravel because alot of the benefical bacteria is in there. Also if you have real plants cleaning the gravel alot will take away the nutrients that the plants need.

I just suck over the top of the gravel lightly to pick up any poop and thats it. I try not to do it too much.

What does everyone else think?

 

[kimbowee]

I clean the entire bottom of the tank with every water change and vaccuum. I move ornaments around about once a month to vaccuum under them. But as chishnfips said, I also try not to thoroughly clean it. Just trying to get the poop and any uneaten food. With the new cories in the tank I don't really have to worry about any uneaten food anymore though.

 

[leafs]

I don't believe that cleaning the gravel removes too much bacteria since it sticks to the gravel. I usually do a complete gravel clean once a week, sometimes every two weeks.