Not cleaning your substrate...

[roydooms]

If you have lots of plants and it's covering more than 90% of your tank, can you get away with not cleaning your substrate? I still clean the parts with no plants but I'm having a hard time cleaning the parts with plants. I'm just worried that if I don't clean the substrate that the fish waste and uneaten food will have a bad effect on fish and my parameters. Thanks in advance.

 

[rich311k]

I never clean substrate in my heavily planted tanks. I remove anything visible but that is about it.

 

[jcolon]

Funny ... I was just thinking the same thing the other day while I was vacuuming.
I'm curious to see the responses ... In my tank it's not a big problem yet ... but as I add more and more plants in the months to come .....

 

[mfdrookie516]

I dont either. I may spot vac if I see something, but generally I just drain halfway and fill back up.

 

[roydooms]

I never clean substrate in my heavily planted tanks. I room anything visible but that is about it.

Without any problems? Ammonia spike or anything?

 

[rich311k]

No problems, many of the fish are 5 years old. Think of it as plant food.

 

[Fdsh5]

I just bought a small gravel vac for a 1-5 gallon tank. The head of the vac is small enough to get between the plants and I dont mind filling one bucket during my pwc. I still finish and fill with the python though.

 

[roydooms]

But you guys have substrates for plants. I have gravel in my tank. Bigger than a dime but smaller than a quarter size. Or it doesn't matter?

 

[mfdrookie516]

ammonia + plants = no ammonia

I see it as a natural fertilizer

 

[Fdsh5]

I use it in my planted gravel tanks too. Especially my tanks that don't have plecos or shrimp in them. I don't want anything laying around in there too long. Maybe I'm just paranoid.

 

[roydooms]

No problems, many of the fish are 5 years old. Think of it as plant food.

I will think of it as plant food then. Thank you.

Thanks everyone

 

[roydooms]

ammonia + plants = no ammonia

I see it as a natural fertilizer

Got it. If I understand it right, before it leeches out in to water column the plants will absorb it first. Or with the amount of plants, I won't even detect any ammonia. Am I Right?

 

[fort384]

I my tank, there is no bare substrate... it is all covered with plants. So... no vacuuming.

 

[roydooms]

I just bought a small gravel vac for a 1-5 gallon tank. The head of the vac is small enough to get between the plants and I dont mind filling one bucket during my pwc. I still finish and fill with the python though.

I use the same thing. I only use my python to drain and fill up my tank. I use a gravel vacuum to clean the substrate. I don't really want to clean around any plant because I don't want to mess up the roots. I also have new plants that needs to establish their roots. Just planted them a few days ago.

 

[roydooms]

I my tank, there is no bare substrate... it is all covered with plants. So... no vacuuming.

Is it a different case if you have a fully stocked or overstocked tank? Discus produce a lot of waste and big chunks too.

 

[Coleallensmom]

I vac what little gravel that is not covered in plants. Areas that have low ground cover, I just hold the vac slight above the plants and that works well enough to get any loose debris. Areas that are under full plant cover don't get vac'd at all.

 

[jetajockey]

i dont gravel vac my heavily planted tanks either.

 

[jimenezlee]

Same here, never vacuum my planted tank and its the one with the best quality water.