Gravel

[Joeyg2100]

I was wondering if I was to vacume all the gravel in my tank, if I would get rid of all the good bacteria that forms in it? I noticed that when I put the gravel vac all the way down in the gravel that a bunch of stuff would come out. Don't know if this was just waste or if it was the bacteria that forms in the gravel. Thanks for any help

 

[timmystood]

It won't make much, if any difference. While there is an awful lot of bacteria in gravel removing it won't be enough to enduce a cycle - there is far too much bacteria left in the filer, on ornaments etc.

The only way you would really manage to kill the bacteria on gravel would be by boiling it in hot water - a simple gravel vac may remove a very small amount - but not anywhere near enough to make a difference.

Also, when you gravel vac all the 'stuff' that comes up is simply waste and debris - every tank gets it. The friendly bacteria in tanks is invisible to the naked eye.

Hope this helps