Run small tank with no mechanical filter

Tristan wrote:
Usyually food and other junk accumulates in the gravekl where the
filter can not pull it ourt and trap it or a fish can not gain acess
too it, where it rots and turns into hydrogen sulphide over time as
well as uping nitrite and nitrate levels. So yes, its important to
keep junk from accumulating in the gravel bed, and the only way to do
that is by vac ing it out. The only thing a big tank is going to do
for you is let you get away with not cleaning the substate longer, but
in time it will still get fouled and create problems....Its easy to
vac out a little of junk than undertake a bunch of it from letting it
go for long periods of time.


Just a couple of things to add here....if you heavily plant your tank
the roots will do some of the work for you....but you still need to
gravel vac around the plants....also pay attention to mulm (gunk) that
accumulates under ornaments/rocks/driftwood (lift them) and "dead areas"
in your tank (these are the ones that don't get sufficient water flow to
push the debris up into your filter)

But the principle is dirt in your gravel will cause you problems in the
future....

Gill