Gravel Vac question

[HopefulHobbiest]

This is just a random question... i've seen different view points on this from researching with google lol

if you have a planted tank do you vac your gravel??

i do gravel vac's and i have a planted tank... not really as planted as i'd like but its getting there.

i just can't really imagine letting all the fish waste and other gunk just build up down there..

anyway, i was just curious to see what others thought.

 

[aqua_chem]

You shouldn't be deeply vacuuming like you would in non-planted tanks, but you should still be cleaning the substrate. I generally use a swirling motion with the vac tube right above the substrate to disturb anything on the surface of the substrate so that I can suck it up. It's not as clean, but it ends up being plenty hygienic.

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

why wouldn't you deep clean? that seems to be where a lot of the fish waste and leftovers from the sinking pellets ends up.

 

[aqua_chem]

Deep cleaning will seriously disturb the root networks of plants.

 

[Rivercats]

Deep cleaning too close to plant roots can cause damage. I wave my hand over the substrate to lift any loose detris into the water column right before WC's. I don't use a gravel vac at all in any of my planted tanks.

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

good point... so would you say only the top 1/4-1/2 of the gravel?
do the plants actually feed off the stuff trapped under the gravel?

 

[aqua_chem]

I usually don't go any lower than 1/4" or so if I go down at all. And yes, plants and heterotrophic bacteria in your substrate will break down the detritus that gets into the substrate.

 

[HopefulHobbiest]

Ok sounds good, I'll try to keep from going any lower then the top 1/4.

Thank you