Tank Overhaul?

[tom130691]

how often do you give it a full clean

tbh i just moved as few plant and the filter and no end of crap came up from gravel and there is also somthing growing on my plastic plants

i do water changes and gravel vacs weekly

so when the ick treatment finishs i am planing to take all the plants/wood ect out for a good clean then use the whole tank of water to vac the gravel or i might take it out and clean it with the shower head i have a few mts in there though

 

[NinjaSmurf]

Are you actually digging around in the gravel and going under rocks and fake plants when you vac? I've always ended up tearing the tank up a little bit doing this because of that. One of the reasons I like sand better tank gravel now (even with a plec lol) as the poop isn't getting buried under.


And I only take the plants out to clean when they start looking funky, as my shrimp and fish have always liked picking at them.

 

[Assaye]

Do a deep clean on your gravel monthly (may need to take decor out for this) and clean your plants when they become dirty/covered in algae. No need for a full strip down unless you've had a nasty disease in the tank.