Can you over-vacuum gravel?

[D12DetroitD12]

I wouldn't think its true. whenever i can clean my gravel i do. I hate it when you move the gravel and a bunch of fish crap and stuff comes up.

 

[mcsnapper1]

It depends. Are you running an UGF? If so, are also running another type of filter(HOB, canister)? If you only have a UGF, I'd say yes. Otherwise, you're probably ok except for clouding up your water when you vacuum aggressively.

 

[White Moth]

My non fish keeping husband definantly reckons you can over vacuum! I need his help to carry the buckets when refilling the 180G, and he'll keep popping his head in to see how much water I'm taking out- knowing he has to help replace it all!

Hes a sweetie.

But he hasn't convinced me yet that it's a bad thing!

 

[Jc1119]

It's false. Your gravel will house loads of bacteria that vacuuming can't remove, and your filtration has most of your bacteria in it anyway. You are doing the right thing and helping to keep nitrates low by keeping your gravel as clean as you can.

This......

Very true. Good advice

 

[johno27]

My non fish keeping husband definantly reckons you can over vacuum! I need his help to carry the buckets when refilling the 180G, and he'll keep popping his head in to see how much water I'm taking out- knowing he has to help replace it all!

Hes a sweetie.

But he hasn't convinced me yet that it's a bad thing!

If you didn't live in Australia I would buy him a python water changer for Christmas poor guy

 

[Rayshot1]

white moth have you looked into purchasing a python suction cleaner that you can hook up to your sink?..thats what i used to do until i moved and now have to run it from the backyard which is pure cold water so i get a few buckets full of 90 degree water to offset..to 80 degrees