vacuuming gravel... removing bacteria?

[isu_guy]

Can vacuuming the gravel remove too much bacteria and cause your tank to re-cycle?

if so, how can you tell where the balance is between removing food and waste vs removing too much bacteria?

 

[canarsie11]

In a well established tank you should have no problem.

How often do you vacuum, I personally only vacuum only once a month. Never had a problem

 

[cutechic]

Vacuuming the gravel sucks up the excess food, waste, etc. You don't want these in your tank. The beneficial bacteria actually clings to gravel and other hard surfaces, so it will not get sucked up when you vacuum the gravel.

 

[Inchworm]

Hi isu_guy

You do not have to worry about losing beneficial bacteria when you vacuum your gravel. This bacteria feeds on the ammonia and nitrites that the fish excrete into the water.

The bacteria you do want to get rid of eats the uneaten food, rotting plant material and other wastes that accumulate at the bottom of the tank. This is the harmful bacteria that cause the fish to become sick if stress of some sort causes their immune systems to be weakened. Regular vacuumings will reduce this risk.

 

[-cAtFiSh-]

just a quick hijack
is vaccuming the same as siphoning?

 

[Fawke]

just a quick hijack
is vaccuming the same as siphoning?

I tend to think of syphoning as taking water out/putting water in using a tube or something.
Vacumming is using a gravel vac that actually sucks water up (like a syphon) and at the same time sucks and stirs the gravel to rid all the mess and poop at in the gravel/substrate.

Apart from that, yes, same idea i guess......