Newbie Question - how to clean planted tank

[Magicmarymac]

I just converted both of my tanks to planted and am wondering how to siphon the substrate without disturbing the plants.

Thank you very much.

 

[xwesx1978]

I don't I just leave it alone and do large water changes weekly

 

[Magicmarymac]

Oh. Wow. Good to know.

Thank you.

 

[Rivercats]

I have a ton of plants and I don't gravel vac either. As above I just do my weekly WC.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Wonderful news!

Thank you.

 

[tiger terror]

I only graval vac the open areas while doin pwc's..

 

[boadams87]

I just do wc and leave the sub alone

 

[Rivercats]

I just do wc and leave the sub alone

I don't gravel vac mine, just do the WC and that's it BUT sometimes I do swish my hand over the gravel to stir things up alittle right before I do a WC.

 

[Magicmarymac]

Sensible!

Thank you, that makes perfect sense.

 

[CorallineAlgae]

I just lightly swirl the siphon over the tops of the places where there are plants in the substrate and gently "touch down" with it in places where the substrate is exposed.

 

[Rivercats]

I just lightly swirl the siphon over the tops of the places where there are plants in the substrate and gently "touch down" with it in places where the substrate is exposed.

I wish I could do that but my plants are too thick. What I have to do is just wave my hand through the plants gently to knock off any detris off them while I'm doing a WC. That is the one disadvantage IMO to having really thick plantings of stem plants and alot of fish.

 

[Tetra1990]

I realized today that I can't gravel vac my 29 any more. Too many plants/too thick!!!! It's ok though, my mts earn their keep by cleaning up.