I Do Not know But I Think I Should

[samxx]

how much should i do the gravel
i do a water charge every 4 days
& used to do the gravel to but someone on here said not to do the gravel so i donot clean the grazel anymore & the pleacos poo is everywhere
how much should i change the gravel

 

[cujoho78]

Hi. I would vacuum the gravel once a week at least. Once every two weeks if you don't have many fish, and more often if you find that there is lots of waste in the gravel.

 

[Bloo]

Once a week or so will generally suffice. But nothing major - just a gentle clean - you don't want to upset / stir the gravel too much.
But there's nothing wrong with lightly sucking up strings of pleco poop every four days (if you find it unsightly) if you really want to.

 

[samxx]

do you mean you get the plastic thing out & which you put in the gravel & get all the picese out
yes i tthink i will get a net to get all the poo out

 

[rEvolution27]

Or you can buy a gravel vacuum to clean the gravel and do a water chantge at the same time.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi samxx

I don't know why anyone would suggest that you don't clean your gravel.

That's why Gravel Vacs have wide ends.......so you can push it down into the gravel and siphon out all the fish poop and any uneaten food that gets down there.

If, for some reason, you don't like doing that, an alternative is to switch to sand. With sand the dirt remains on top and can easily be vacuumed away or sucked up by the filter.

 

[pokagon55]

I think the reason why someone would say is while your tank cycles it is not a good idea to but after the cycle you MUST do a gravel vac. in order to keep the nitrates down. The rule of thumb is 30% gravel vac. when you do a water change. And get way down in the gravel.