syphone gravel??

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

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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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

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

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.