How do you vacuum with plants

[rdd1952]

I now have all my plants in both my 29 and 75 gallon tanks. Now the next problem. How in the world do you do a good bottom vacuum amounst all the plants without knocking them loose or breaking them? I know there are loose leaves in there that I can't get to or even see. Also how do you vacuum amoung the plants without sucking up a fish or shrimp? I know there must be a way to do it.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Alot of peeps who keep planted tanks dont even vacuum. I dont, its only on occasions that i do.

If your worried about detritous, use active bottum fish like Kuhlis loaches and the cute litle cories. they help move the detritous so it eventually finds its way to your filter.

I gather all dead and dying leaves by hand or with a small net.

Godluck, Benny

 

[Terrorbyte]

You shouldn't have to vacuum your gravel if you have plants, unless you notice a serious amount of dirt/waste within the gravel. Bear in mind that the plants use the waste for food/fertilizer, so it's not necessarily a good thing to have "clean gravel" in a planted tank. If you must vacuum, do so very carefully, and avoid siphoning near plants.

 

[rdd1952]

Thanks to both of you. That is what I really wanted to hear as I have been scratching my head as to how to pull it off.I already have 5 corys in the 29 gallon and plan to have 6 or 8 in the 75 gallon.

 

[Mr Miagi]

Cool! Goodluck with the cories!