Vacuuming question...

[Rue]

Right now I have all my plants in planter rocks (and they're doing very well), so when I vacuum, it's not an issue...

BUT...if and when I set up my larger tank, I want it heavily planted...I can't for the life of me figure out how to vacuum thoroughly yet not disturb the roots...

...obviously I'm missing some basic notion here...anyone care to enlighten me? :D

[Sasquatch]

It won't disturb the roots too much as long as you put the gravel back on top of them. At least, that's how it is in my tank.

[Rue]

Good to know...I thought if they get disturbed too often, the plants would suffer...

...but I suppose in a natural setting they'd have the current and what-not to contend with as well...

[jeffs99dime]

i siphon all the detritus and food waste above the substrate, about 1/4" off the surface. it's tricky at first, but you'll get the hang of it

[Lady Hobbs]

That was also a question I had since I am a clean freak and remove all decorations and do a good cleaning about once a month. After doing a ton of reading on the same issue, find it isn't necessary as the plants use up the waste and as Jeff mentioned, only surface cleaning is necessary.

[kufan]

I don't know if its recommended, but I have pretty heavily planted tank, and when I vaccuum it, I just remove all the plants, vaccuum the whole thing, and then put the plants back in. I personally don't mind it because my tank setup is always changing and it makes it more interesting.

KU

[Incredulous_Ed]

Isn't that bad for the plants?
I just vaccum around the plants. I guess the wastes near the roots are used up by the plant

[Rue]

Well...I was thinking about having a deeper gravel section separate from the rest - with rocks or something that the plants go in...and NOT vacuuming that area...

...but having the main part of the tank with less gravel...and vacuuming that more heavily...or using my planter rocks in the open area...

LOL...so many options...

[jeffs99dime]

Well...I was thinking about having a deeper gravel section separate from the rest - with rocks or something that the plants go in...and NOT vacuuming that area...

...but having the main part of the tank with less gravel...and vacuuming that more heavily...or using my planter rocks in the open area...

LOL...so many options...

you still have to get the detritus and waste off the surface though, regardless if there are live plants or not

[Rue]

...so no chance that the water flow itself and/or detrivores will look after just a bit of the tank?

...hmmm...back to the drawing board...