How To Vacuum A Planted Tank?

[mbeer21]

I'd like to add a few more live plants to my tank, but I'm worried about how to clean it. As it is, I 'uproot' the fake plants to give the gravel a serious vacuum every time I do the water change; I imagine doing that to real plants would kill them off fairly fast
Do I just avoid the plants? Will the waste build up too much if I don't clean the gravel near them?

Tank is the one in my signature; Currently I only have one Anubias (I assume that's what it is) attached to driftwood in the centre, and I'd like a couple of Amazon Swords to replace the large red-edged fake plant, and perhaps a few Java Ferns in front of that. Depends what my LFS has I suppose.

 

[StandbySetting]

Just do what you can, I don't bother personally, you shouldn't be uprooting plants though.

 

[RadaR]

The good flow and circulation we need in our planted tanks usually sucks up any detritus into the filters so very little sinks down to the substrate.
Maybe a hoover every now and then

 

[Ps3Steveo]

All I ever done was use the tip of my hose to siphon out any dirt round the roots and bottom of stems as best I could and other than that it was left.