Is Cleaning Gravel Necessary?

  • We are currently upgrading MFK. thanks! -neo
My filters suck up all the poop from the tank floors. It even does this on a 90 (tall) that has a HOB siphon overflow (not very low in the tank at all, takes water from the top) and an AC70 with both extensions on the intake.

I have 6 tanks, and only two have substrate and are fully planted, so don't require gravel vac. Regular gravel does not work this way. If you want substrate, go with a planted tank, using top soil as the bottom layer, and pea gravel (or other decorative gravel, I use pea gravel cos it's natural looking and cheap) over top of it. Here are more detailed directions. http://thegab.org/Plants/setting-up-a-walstad-natural-planted-tank.html
But if you already have fish in the tank, it is difficult to do this easily.
 
For easiest cleaning it goes bare bottom - sand - gravel
 
Kanta;4782610; said:
On the bottom.....bare bottom tanks are the easiest to take care of. They look nice but don't have the lister of a fully aquascaped tank. I have one tank bare bottom and I do like it though.
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man... i like my gravel (it was expensive to buy that much) and i like planting in my tank so ill just suffer... would gravel cleaning once a month not be often enough? :D
 
josephjeon;4782657; said:
man... i like my gravel (it was expensive to buy that much) and i like planting in my tank so ill just suffer... would gravel cleaning once a month not be often enough? :D
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Do one half one week, then the other half the next week. Or you could split it up into 1/3's of the tank, and alternate weekly.
 
Laticauda;4782675; said:
Do one half one week, then the other half the next week. Or you could split it up into 1/3's of the tank, and alternate weekly.
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strange... i never thought of that..... that sounds a lot easier and less stresful hahaha thanks!
 
I was a big promoter of barebottom setups for a long time. But now I really like the look of sand and will be using it in my 125 once it's resealed. Has the same effect, turds just sit on top and you can turkey baster them out or set up currents to collect them. I just think that a little anaerobic denitrification simply must be tried...and the sand looks nice.
 
On my tanks I do my water changes with my grav-vac and vac the open areas of the tank while I wait for my bucket to fill. Once a month or so I move things around and actually vac, the spots with the rocks have A LOT of poop under them (Khuli loaches, I'm looking at you). My Params are always good though.
I run 29s and smaller right now though and do 5g buckets outta and into each of them a few times a week (a trifle over stocked in my angel tank, gold fish are just charming slimy poo machines).
Test your water, do what ya hafta, if nitrates are still high after a water change that's your cue to move stuff.
 
Laticauda;4782696; said:
I'm glad we could find a compromise. But I have faith that one day...you will come to the dark side ;)
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If my gravel was free... i bet you I would be taking it out right now! haha 100 dollars of gravel isnt something I think i can just decide to get rid of :d
 
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