Gravel

[goldie]

I am getting a new tank and can't decide what gravel to get.....small pebble type or fine......I know the fish prefer the fine type, but it's more difficult to clean.....
Is there a way of cleaning the finer type that I dont know about??
When I have used the finer type in the past, my plants thrived ,but gravel cleaning was a pain.......Advice anyone please.....I am due to get the tank this week.

 

[loafybones]

Get a gravel vac. You can get the one with the syphon or there's one that runs off an air pump and it sucks the crap into a little sock thingy. best thing I've bought in ages!

Soph

 

[goldie]

Sorry i should have said, I do use a gravel vac, but found the fine gravel shot up the tube too fast, and I had to keep shaking it down .
The one with the sack attached to a pump would be too small to use on a 190 L tank...I think thats more for just skimming over the top of the gravel??....

 

[keane]

Is there a way of cleaning the finer type that I dont know about??

I have heard that someone on here doesn't actually lunge their vac in to the gravel.

Instead they siwsh an area of gravel by hand so the crap is disturbed and lifted up into the water and they just vac that area and take all the crud up. Then move on to another area and do the same.

Sounds like a good idea to me.

Is actually water change day for me today so am gonna try it. When I usually do my community tank I always end up knocking my plants everywhere with my vac. Using my fingers to disturb the gravel instead will give me a little more control and precision without screwing up my tank layout!!

steve

 

[goldie]

Thanks, you have made my mind up for me....fine gravel it is

 

[loafybones]

I use my vac in a 180l with sand substrate and it's fine.