Water Change Question

[ArroWanaWhitey]

I'm wondering, when you talk about water changes do you just change the water, or do you clean out the gravel... my aquarium is planted and i change the water twice a week. i use a python but when i go to suck the stuff out of the gravel it gets my plants all out of place.. and i want to get my substrate fully planted so idk how i am going to clean the gravel... do you have to clean the gravel or can you just suck out water and change it?

 

[ICEEGRL]

I do clean the gravel once a week. Around plants I just do alot more gently until they are more established. When I first put mine in I waited a few weeks, then started getting closer and closer. Now get all around them. They are well rooted so they aren't going any where. I am still carful not to pull them up though. Mostly I try to just get what is loose on top. You can also use a turky baster to gently suck up stuff at and around small or tender plants.
That's just me though. I can't stand for it to look dirty. I wouldn't want to be trapped in something that small with my poo. I figure they don't either.
I don't know about yours, but mine all want to go right where the plants are so it piles up. I can't just leave it there, and the filter is on the other side of the tank. It gets some, but not all.
Also I have marbles, and you can see it. It makes my tank look nasty.