Mean & clean

[Machine 79]

How often have you broken down your tank for a clean up? Take out rocks, driftwood, etc, and gravel vac under it all? Do you stir the substrate? I'm planning a thorough cleaning tomorrow evening and I'm going to try and make it a regular task maybe monthly. I have a heavy bioload in the tank so I'm hopeful my results will help improve conditions. There not poor now, but want to step it up a bit.

 

[kno4te]

I don’t as the decor in my tank it small enough to be moved around by my fish. This includes the substrate. 1/2in or less of sand that’s easily managed. Never a bad thing to move things around to keep waste out.

 

[FreshyFresh]

Never, although I've only been back in the hobby seriously since 2012.

The only time I totally break down a tank is if I have to move it or permanently take it down.

My oscar and severum tank has been in the same spot with the same gravel and filters since 2013. I do one weekly ~80% water change on it and thoroughly vac the gravel at the same time.

My planted 55g has also been in the same spot since 2012. Same decor and gravel. I never even gravel vac the planted 55. It gets a ~60% WC every other week.

 

[Joshuakahan]

How often have you broken down your tank for a clean up? Take out rocks, driftwood, etc, and gravel vac under it all? Do you stir the substrate? I'm planning a thorough cleaning tomorrow evening and I'm going to try and make it a regular task maybe monthly. I have a heavy bioload in the tank so I'm hopeful my results will help improve conditions. There not poor now, but want to step it up a bit.

I never do that type of cleaning, on my tank with the heaviest load, I do 50% wc every 4 days and clean the filters bi-weekly. But my decor also gets pushed around, so moving it isn’t necessary

 

[Machine 79]

I have alot of structure in my tank. I haven't moved any of it yet to gravel vac. Lots of crevices for detritus and excess food to hide in. I'll post a picture

 

[Machine 79]

 

[FreshyFresh]

Very cool looking setup. Crud definitely has a way of settling under hardscape. Not much you do other than move things around to gravel vac under it.

 

[lifeon2]

I tend to just lift and vac under and around without taking everything out.

 

[Machine 79]

Thank you! I need a better light. This one is garbage.

 

[duanes]

I have had tanks up for over 20 years without breaking them down.
Because I do every other day water changes, with regular cleaning of filter media, and regular vacuuming, I see no need to do a major breakdown
I will only break a tank down if it needs repair, or if a disease strikes that needs bleaching of everything to sanitize.