Cleaning tips??

[bostonbass]

Hi everyone. I have a couple questions about the best way to clean the substrate in my tanks. In one tank, there is sand for the Corys and it is always clogging the vac. I could get a larger diameter vac but then it might just suck all the sand clear out. I've considered stirring up the sand then just sucking out the waste with the water that's getting changed, but I've read this can lead to a bacterial bloom.

My other question is for my larger (relatively) tank. It has a CaribSea Eco-Complete substrate for all the plants. I have a difficult time getting the vac around all the plants and down to the substrate. And when I finally do, I usually end up disturbing or completely upending the plant.

Any and all tips are greatly appreciated.

 

[Delapool]

For planted tanks I just try to have good filter flow to push muck along the substrate to the filter. For water changes I just try to swirl the pipe around to lift up muck.