planted tank substrate cleaning

[RUSH2112]

Planted tank noob here,

I love the look of the plush planted tank but, one thing concerns me. I vacuum my substrate every 2 weeks. How do you do this in one of the heavily planted aquariums? It looks almost impossible. Is it not needed anymore? (plants utilize all the organic stuff) I know you still need water changes but, cleaning the substrate perplexes me. Just another silly newbie question....Thanks

 

[djlen]

Not a silly question...a reasonable one.
A healthy planted tank needs a gravel vac. very infrequently, and when done just a surface one to clean up loose stuff and/or accumulating leaves.
The only time I do a 'deep' vac. is immediately after pulling stems or a rosette plant that is past it's prime. This usually leaves a large, gaping hole which will show a lot of 'gunk'. I then suck all that stuff out while leveling the substrate in the area for the next planting. I normally do this in conjunction with a large water change.

Len

 

[TKOS]

I usually leave a bare spot in my tanks so that cories can come and hang out and I can see them easier. this is also the feeding spot. I do a deep gravel cleaning there but as Len said the rest of the tank gets pretty much a light surface cleaning every so often.