Gravel / Cleaning

[Jonno]

How often should a tank be completely cleaned from top to toe?
Should the gravel ever be removed completely and re-added
with new gravel?

[Jonno]

wrote:
>
> yes. even with weekly vacuuming gravel needs to be pulled out and cleaned in treated
> water every few months. It is relatively easy to tell when the gravel needs to be
> pulled out and washed off as the nitrates (20ppm or less is good) will be high or
> bounce back high right after water changes. OR, the pH will start dropping in poorly
> buffered water. Ingrid

Ingrid, What about sand?