1. YES
2. No
3. Typically when you do your water changes, so once a week, or every other tops. Since you have a 5 gal I would probably do two 25% water changes every week.
i would just like to add and it prob doesnt apply here but for number 1 in my planted tanks i rarely gravel vac. at most i go over the top of the plants kicking up any extra waste. if i went into the substrate i would most likely be destroying roots. again prob not the case but if others read.1. YES
2. No
3. Typically when you do your water changes, so once a week, or every other tops. Since you have a 5 gal I would probably do two 25% water changes every week.
i gravel vac allover and i have live plants i just dont do to close to my plants or can move them carefully out of the way so not to kill or chop of roots. i do this because gravel looks clean but once you go into it it takes out loads of unseen dirti would just like to add and it prob doesnt apply here but for number 1 in my planted tanks i rarely gravel vac. at most i go over the top of the plants kicking up any extra waste. if i went into the substrate i would most likely be destroying roots. again prob not the case but if others read.
most of mine i cant seen much of the substrate loli gravel vac allover and i have live plants i just dont do to close to my plants or can move them carefully out of the way so not to kill or chop of roots. i do this because gravel looks clean but once you go into it it takes out loads of unseen dirt