syphone gravel??

[Jen]

I no longer have an under gravel filter, is it still necessary to siphon the
gravel each time I do a water change? How can you do it easily with plants
and rocks?

Thanks

Jen

[nut]

Jen wrote:
> I no longer have an under gravel filter, is it still necessary to
> siphon the gravel each time I do a water change? How can you do it
> easily with plants and rocks?

Yes, still clean the gravel... you don't have to do it every time you water
change, but i do... it gives me something to do while the bucket's filling
up.

Just work around the plants and rocks - the area beneath the rocks will be
free of debris anyway.



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[Gill Passman]

nut wrote:

>
> Just work around the plants and rocks - the area beneath the rocks will be
> free of debris anyway.
>


I personally find that the areas under the rocks/driftwood in my tanks
become dead areas that gather mulm and all sorts of other rubbish so
will periodically lift them and give the gravel a good clean with the
vac....A lot of where and how many dead areas there are in a tank are
very dependant on the water flow and circulation - for example in one of
my tanks all the dirt concentrates in just one area (near the filter
outlet) whereas others it will be under rocks and wood....

JME

Gill

[carlrs]

Gill Passman wrote:
> nut wrote:
>
> >
> > Just work around the plants and rocks - the area beneath the rocks will be
> > free of debris anyway.
> >
>
>
> I personally find that the areas under the rocks/driftwood in my tanks
> become dead areas that gather mulm and all sorts of other rubbish so
> will periodically lift them and give the gravel a good clean with the
> vac....A lot of where and how many dead areas there are in a tank are
> very dependant on the water flow and circulation - for example in one of
> my tanks all the dirt concentrates in just one area (near the filter
> outlet) whereas others it will be under rocks and wood....
>
> JME
>
> Gill

I totally agree with Gill about vacuuming under rocks and other decor.
this mulm build up can lead to decay, acid production and deplete kH. I
am careful around plants, but I try and lift up the rocks everytime I
vacuum.

Carl

[Tynk]

carlrs wrote:
> Gill Passman wrote:
> > nut wrote:
> >
> > >
> > > Just work around the plants and rocks - the area beneath the rocks will be
> > > free of debris anyway.
> > >
> >
> >
> > I personally find that the areas under the rocks/driftwood in my tanks
> > become dead areas that gather mulm and all sorts of other rubbish so
> > will periodically lift them and give the gravel a good clean with the
> > vac....A lot of where and how many dead areas there are in a tank are
> > very dependant on the water flow and circulation - for example in one of
> > my tanks all the dirt concentrates in just one area (near the filter
> > outlet) whereas others it will be under rocks and wood....
> >
> > JME
> >
> > Gill
>
> I totally agree with Gill about vacuuming under rocks and other decor.
> this mulm build up can lead to decay, acid production and deplete kH. I
> am careful around plants, but I try and lift up the rocks everytime I
> vacuum.
>
> Carl

Ditto on what Gill and Carl are saying.
I too vacuum under everything, each time.
Vacuuming gravel is just part of having gravel in a tank.
I think the only tanks that can get away without it are the tanks that
are like something Takashi Amano has done....completley filled...every
inch/centimeter with live plants.