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Hey everyone!

I've always used the long plastic syphon to clean my 25gal aquarium and make water changes. I find this method a little more challenging now that my tank has become heavily planted with a beautiful bed of java fern and java moss. I'm constantly uprooting the plants and re-planted them during water changes and cleanings.

My questions are.

1. Is there a easier way to clean a heavily planted aquarium?

2. Do most planted aquariums use stronger filtration and have less need for manual/syphon cleaning?
(current filter is a aquaclear hang on)

Depending on your plants you do not have to syphon at all. I used to syphon around and over my small crypts until a little reading advised me to leave the mulm around them as this is their natural food.
Java ferns should be on DW or rocks and that is not a problem also Java moss grows on rocks and wood. It is impossible for me to vac my 40lt Betta tank all I do is just syphon from one point.

What you could consider is to wave your hand gently over the plants this will disturb any dirt and rubbish poetically around the Java Moss which seems to attract dirt like a magnet.

Filtration/water movement for planted tanks can vary in my 5ft Anubias jungle I have a Eheim Pro11 canister and a fully UGF system plus air stones and the just love the fast
flowing water movement. There are plants that prefer a more placid water movement.
To answer this

Is there a easier way to clean a heavily planted aquarium?

I dont think so it is all work as plants must be looked after and some more that others.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
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I guess if my water parameters are fine I shouldn't worry too much about the "mulm" and stuff.

Do you think there is an advantage in using a UGF system in heavily planted aquariums?

As usual the UGF has its supporters and its downers.

Now the same applies to UGF with plants.
My UGF in the 5ft does not have any rooted plants all Anubias tied to either DW or a few rocks. I have been told by the so called experts that the UGF is no good for rooted plants.

With the mulm all I know it works for the Crypts as for other plants I have no idea if it is the same.

Sorry that is the best I can do for you.

Have a look in [link=My Profile] http://www.fishprofiles.com/forums/member.aspx?id=1935[/link] for my tank info

Look here for my
Betta 11Gal Desktop & Placidity 5ft Community Tank Photos

Keith

Near enough is not good enough, therefore good enough is not near enough, and only your best will do.
I VOTE DO YOU if not WHY NOT?
VOTE NOW VOTE NOW

Where is everyone? This topic is a perennial favourite.

Try the 'hover' technique. Hold the pipe of the siphon just above the gravel and the pieces will scoot up.

It is worth disturbing the gravel slightly (not enough to uproot the plants) to prevent any erky pockets of bad bacteria from laying in wait then pouncing and radically altering your tank's balance.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~~~ My fish blow kisses at me all day long ~~~

Hi,
Very few things spark more controversy here on FP than
the use of a UGF or salt in a freshwater tank.

Personally, I have a UGF in continuous use, for over 15
years. I throw hands full of plants away with each weekly
water change. The only caveat I've ever read was that
the Madagascar Lace plant does not do well in a tank with
a UGF. I've never had one and cannot remark on that.

I believe the problem with the UGF's and a sometimes
bad reputation, stems from its original marketing.
Decades ago, when it was first introduced, it was
marketed as a filter that never needed any maintenance
or replacement parts. The latter is correct, there
is nothing to break. The former is incorrect.
based upon the marketing, think of what the
average fish keeper thought as they finally drained the
tank after several years and removed the filter plates.
Under those plates was a thick brown mud. Despite thriving
plants, and breeding dozens of species of fish, most took
one look at the "mud" and panicked. I can only imagine
what that person thought, despite their success in the hobby,
"This "Stuff" is in my tank polluting it." UGH!!
IMO, hence the "bad rep."

While the filter itself needs no maintenance the
tank does. 20-40 years ago nothing like the Python
water changer existed, and while "we all" did water
changes non actually, truly, vacuumed the gravel.
Now we can vacuum the gravel right down to the
filter plates and, over time, clean the entire tank.
Also, the RUGF has been "invented" and that can eliminate
much of the "mud." The last time I tore down my tank was
to move from VA to CO, and when I did the tank had been
running with the same UGF for 13 years. The plant's roots
had grown through the slats of the filter plates
and were throughout the bottom of the tank buried
in the "brown mud."

If you choose to use one, or choose not to use one, you
still need to do water changes, and you still need to
vacuum the gravel on a regular basis.

Frank


-->>> The Confidence of Amateurs, is the Envy of Professionals <<<--

if you have mts snails you won't get those gas pockets either

The Amazon Nut...