How Do You Gravel Vac A Planted Tank.

[nudzy]

I know this is probably a really silly question but how do you manage to gravel vac??

I have planted up my 180 it looks great and would love to keep it that way as the fish realy seem to enjoy them. but when I gravel vac, im worried about damaging the plants roots, and also sometimes overnight or when I gravel vac to close to them they come out of the substrate (very fine gravel) Im worried if I dont clean the gravel as I normally do will it upset the tank.

I also wanted to try a carpet type plant in one area but how would you clean the gravel under that??

Will the plants be better once they have matured and the roots have grown and anchored more ?

The tank has got good lighting and it runs off and eheim external filter.

reading this back it sounds wrong but hopefully you good people will know what I mean.

thanks a lot in advance for replys.

 

[Johnlenham]

I may be wrong in this but I was under the impression that you don't clean around the plants, just in the open areas as the plants use the waste and debris as food but again I could be wrong.

 

[Colin_T]

You can just gravel clean around the plants. Leave an inch or two between the base of the plant and where you gravel clean.

If you have lots of gunk in the gravel it can encourage diseases but it you have plants over the substrate then they will trap the gunk and use it to grow. If you have a carpeting plant then you don't gravel clean under it. You can move the gravel cleaner over the top of them and it will suck out some of the gunk that has settled among the leaves.

Increasing water movement in the tank, especially around the bottom, will help lift the gunk up and the filter should be able to draw it out and hold it.

 

[Mikaila31]

I keep densly planted tanks. I don't gravel vac at all, mainly because the substrate is mostly covered by plants. Fish waste, dead and dying matter will work down into the gravel and the plants roots will use it as fertilizer. When I water change I use the gravel vac to suck up any loose leaves and things.

 

[nudzy]

thats great everyone, thanks for replys, now I know what to do, hopefully the plants that ive got will thrive, and ill vac the open spaces

thanks again, and regards, to all.

 

[kphoebe]

i think its great someone finally asked this too, because I had NO idea and Ive always wanted to try a planted tank.
Thanks =)

 

[theshadowinc]

I keep densly planted tanks. I don't gravel vac at all, mainly because the substrate is mostly covered by plants. Fish waste, dead and dying matter will work down into the gravel and the plants roots will use it as fertilizer. When I water change I use the gravel vac to suck up any loose leaves and things.

I was hoping someone else would say this before i did lol, I rarely ever vac my tank, when i am doing a replant i usually do it then, but i just remove my java moss the carpet from the tank same with fern and vac all around about 1 time every month an only the stuff on the top, never try to har to go deep, 1 thing with java moss is, it collects alot of waste from the fist it uses it as food so meh its good in my tank the moss loves it. Do a water change every 2 weeks when having issues do it every week or as advised depending on the issue.

 

[poconoboss]

Another option is getting a bunch of Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They burrow into the gravel and eat all the debris. They will come out at night when the lights are off to feed above the gravel.


Here is some info: http/aqualandpetsplus.com/Bug,%20Snails,...n%20Trumpet.htm

 

[tom130691]

im unsure on snails think they might breed to much n dominate the tank although they sound very usefull
i no you can get some fish to eat snails but what stops them eating every one of the snails?

 

[Mikaila31]

With proper waste control the snails should not go out of control. I keep MTS and 2 other types of snails in my planted tanks and none of them are a issue.

Also this thread is about a year old....

 

[RadaR]

Generally these days, planted tank owners are encouraged to buy powerful filters for their tanks. This fortunately allows waste and debris to be sucked into the filter instead of resting on the substrate. Maintenance such as pruning or water changes usually sturs up any excess debris which the filter will then suck in.