Vacuuming gravel

[Jen21]

I've been finding it harder and harder to vacuum the gravel as I get more plants in my tank. I was wondering how people do it with lots of plants... do you take them out... or just go around them?

 

[gadazobe]

Just go around them. There's no need to vacuum by the plants, they use all that gunk as food. In fact I don't vacuum the sand at all in my heavily planted tank - I just pick out the dead leaves and do general gardening, although I do do a 20% weekly water change.

 

[nc_nutcase]

Taking them out will disturb their roots (obviously ) and should be avoided. Just vac around them. the waste is actually food for the plants and should be left near them.

 

[LoachLover]

Just go around them. If you pulled them out it would stress out the plants

 

[taylorhedrich]

I have synthetic plants, so I just push them outta the way as I go along, and then place them back in different places when I am done vacuuming.
~Taylor~