PLANTED TANK

[DLEONARD]

Hi:

If I add live plants to my tank, how do I do the cleaning with the python, will it damage the plants OR do you remove the plants?? May seems to be a stupid question, BUT I never use live plant before.

Dinah

[Monster VooDoo Fish]

Just clean around the plant with your python.
Try not to cut the roots to much..

[Apocalypse]

DO NOT REMOVE YOUR PLANTS. :grinno:

Simply siphon as close the roots as possible, avoiding any contact with the roots.

[DLEONARD]

thanks, great help.................

[TaratronVaeVictus]

Depends on the plant. I take it you mean rooted ones? Do you use Flourish or misc fertilizer? Fertilizer tabs that you stick under the substrate?

I tend to use the latter, and Flourish, for my planted tanks. Since I use the tabs under the gravel, it would not be a good idea to go poking the Python in the gravel. So...I plant a lot, fertilize well, and don't use the Python in the substrate at all.

[sohfatfish]

You do not need to siphon the gravel.. most of the dead plant matter just becomes fertilizer for the plants in your aquarium. Just siphon the water and whatever dirt that u can and leave the substrat and plants alone.