question about 'furniture' and vacuuming

i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

Not sure if it's common, but I occasionally move the big things, just to
upset the gravel a bit... I even use a wooden skewer you'd use for shrimp
kabobs, etc, to poke and prod into the gravel that's been under a rock, and
the reason is aenerobic pockets of gas, or air, whichever, so that they can
escape and not buildup to become toxic...

This may not be common practice, but FWIW...

Back to your question.... You don't have to upset stuff if you don't want
to... vacuum around the big things as needed...

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RedForeman ©® future fabricator and creator of a ratbike
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1992 TRX-350 XX (For Sale)
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is that better??

RedForeman ©® wrote in message ...
i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

Not sure if it's common, but I occasionally move the big things, just to
upset the gravel a bit... I even use a wooden skewer you'd use for shrimp
kabobs, etc, to poke and prod into the gravel that's been under a rock, and
the reason is aenerobic pockets of gas, or air, whichever, so that they can
escape and not buildup to become toxic...

This may not be common practice, but FWIW...

Back to your question.... You don't have to upset stuff if you don't want
to... vacuum around the big things as needed...


I have extensive heavy rock work in my 120 gallon african tank. It's a major
pain in the bum (or ass for our North American friends) to move it around. I
only move it when I have to chase a holding female to get her out of there.
This usually involves taking everything out. What this reveals is a large
amount of debris hiding under these rocks, debris that is rotting and
releasing a hell of alot of crap into my nice tank.. So I'd have to
recommend cleaning out from under the large decorations in your tank at
least once a month, maybe every two months in a lightly stocked tank.

Having said that I doubt I would be so keen on doing it if I wasn't trying
to catch a female...

Paul wrote:

RedForeman ©® wrote in message ...

i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

Not sure if it's common, but I occasionally move the big things, just to
upset the gravel a bit... I even use a wooden skewer you'd use for shrimp
kabobs, etc, to poke and prod into the gravel that's been under a rock, and
the reason is aenerobic pockets of gas, or air, whichever, so that they can
escape and not buildup to become toxic...

This may not be common practice, but FWIW...

Back to your question.... You don't have to upset stuff if you don't want
to... vacuum around the big things as needed...



I have extensive heavy rock work in my 120 gallon african tank. It's a major
pain in the bum (or ass for our North American friends) to move it around. I
only move it when I have to chase a holding female to get her out of there.
This usually involves taking everything out. What this reveals is a large
amount of debris hiding under these rocks, debris that is rotting and
releasing a hell of alot of crap into my nice tank.. So I'd have to
recommend cleaning out from under the large decorations in your tank at
least once a month, maybe every two months in a lightly stocked tank.

Having said that I doubt I would be so keen on doing it if I wasn't trying
to catch a female...



My 38 has several large rock caves. At each cleaning I move one to
clean under it and move the gravel around. It only takes a moment to
move one back and forth, and each cave gets the treatment every 5-6
weeks. In all it adds maybe 30 seconds to maintenance time.

Polarhound wrote in message ...
Paul wrote:

RedForeman ©® wrote in message ...

i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

Not sure if it's common, but I occasionally move the big things, just to
upset the gravel a bit... I even use a wooden skewer you'd use for shrimp
kabobs, etc, to poke and prod into the gravel that's been under a rock,
and
the reason is aenerobic pockets of gas, or air, whichever, so that they
can
escape and not buildup to become toxic...

This may not be common practice, but FWIW...

Back to your question.... You don't have to upset stuff if you don't want
to... vacuum around the big things as needed...



I have extensive heavy rock work in my 120 gallon african tank. It's a
major
pain in the bum (or ass for our North American friends) to move it
around. I
only move it when I have to chase a holding female to get her out of
there.
This usually involves taking everything out. What this reveals is a
large
amount of debris hiding under these rocks, debris that is rotting and
releasing a hell of alot of crap into my nice tank.. So I'd have to
recommend cleaning out from under the large decorations in your tank at
least once a month, maybe every two months in a lightly stocked tank.

Having said that I doubt I would be so keen on doing it if I wasn't
trying
to catch a female...



My 38 has several large rock caves. At each cleaning I move one to
clean under it and move the gravel around. It only takes a moment to
move one back and forth, and each cave gets the treatment every 5-6
weeks. In all it adds maybe 30 seconds to maintenance time.

I agree with that method completely. move one rock every week and it's no
big deal. in my case however all the rocks are piled into one intricate
structure, so unfortunately for me it's all or nothing..

My 38 has several large rock caves. At each cleaning I move one to
clean under it and move the gravel around. It only takes a moment to
move one back and forth, and each cave gets the treatment every 5-6
weeks. In all it adds maybe 30 seconds to maintenance time.


ya i only have 3 pieces but they are over 25 and 30 inches, and they
interlock. so to remove the top piece i may as well move the other 2.
and i can't move the side pieces without removing the top piece.

btw what are your caves, are there pics, are they commercial things.
and if you have a 38(gall/litres), how do you fit so many caves in
there?

sl wrote:
i have 2 20lb or more bogwood, and rock, set up as a cave. now do i
want to disturb this formation on a monthly basis to vacuum, or just
vacuum around it? or maybe move it every 6 months or so. the tank is
too small to move the stuff to a different location. thoughts? it is
an oscar tank

One thing I've heard for dealing with rockwork is to direct a jet of water
into the structures to stir things up and off of the rocks. A powerhead or
Python would do the trick. This doesn't help with anaerobic conditions in
the substrate, but does help remove some of the mulm that settles into the
rocks and such itself.