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HALW_Fish Fingerling Posts: 17 Kudos: 19 Votes: 0 Registered: 09-Sep-2005	I'm still tossing up different ideas for a 29G (possibly a 55G now)... when using live plants how do you syphon the substrate, particularly with the grass type ones that spread over the entire bottom of the aquarium? (I'm super new to this - so it might be a stupid question )
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
bettachris Ultimate Fish Guru Posts: 3875 Kudos: 4173 Votes: 452 Registered: 13-Jun-2004	are u useing a pyhton? with the tube, then u can go to an area where there aren't many plants, and stick it into the gravel, and drag it along the gravel, or u can take out the plants and re plant them later, hope that helps
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
zoeandmaia Hobbyist Posts: 125 Kudos: 121 Votes: 78 Registered: 01-Jan-2005	Very carefully. I get as close as possible to the plant and press the syphon as far as I can into the gravel without disturbing the roots. In heavily planted areas I kind of swish the water around the plants to stir up the debris. Once it is loose I suck it up through the syphon. Basically the important thing is to not disturb the roots. I would not suggest pulling the plants up each time you want to gravel vac. Each time you move the plants they'll go through a "moping" period. Good luck!
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56
Natalie Ultimate Fish Guru Apolay Wayyioy Posts: 4499 Kudos: 3730 Votes: 348 Registered: 01-Feb-2003	I don't syphon the gravel at all. Merely hovering the vacuum about 0.5" above the gravel is enough to suck up any unsightly debris on the surface - Anything that settles deep into the gravel will form a non-toxic layer called "mulm", which is the ideal habitat for beneficial bacteria, fungi, invertebrates, and of course plant roots. I haven't plunged the vacuum into my gravel in nearly two years, and my tank is healthier than ever. Here is a "cross-section" of the gravel and mulm layers in my tank. Most of the plant roots are in the mulm layer. Last edited by Cory Addict at 17-Sep-2005 20:13[/font] I'm not your neighbor, you Bakersfield trash.
Posted 26-Jan-2006 11:56


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