gravel cleaning

[kenneth_kpe]

hey i just recently got a small gravel cleaner for my planted tank, do you think it is more of a bad thing or good ? i intend to clean only around the parts where there are no plants that have a chance of getting uprooted, u know just to keep the quality of the water nice and clean ? or should i just let the murk settle ? im kinda bothered because whenever i move around stuff around the aquarium a huge mess of fish waste and whatever floats around and i dunno if its ok ?

 

[George Farmer]

Hi Kenneth,

If your filter is effective enough, don't stock too heavily and have enough plants then you shouldn't need to clean the gravel too thoroughly, at least not syphon with a gravel cleaner. Before I had too many plants to get to the gravel I used to wave my hand back and forth just above the gravel to pick up any detritus and syphon the dirty water. Hope this helps.

 

[kenneth_kpe]

thanks ,il keep that in mind, but im kinda confused on how you acually measure a heavily stocked aquarium ? measure the fishes in inches ? sorry im kinda newb at this stuff