Do i need to vacuum the gravel in my light to medium planted tank?

[Nellie]

Hi All,

I'm not impressed with my tank's current setup and I'm looking to add some root plants to the mix. I've got my eye on a Zorchnzon Sword and a couple of crypts - probably one Petchii and one wendtii. With my existing stem plants, java ferns, and anubus, I've been vacuuming the gravel during water changes, but I'm unsure if I should continue with this routine once the new plants are in.

I'm planning to place the Zorchnzon Sword in the back middle and relocate the crypts to the left side. I'll also be moving that piece of Java fern wood to the right and reorganizing the stones, possibly adding some Ludwigia behind them. My tank is a 190ltr, low-tech setup, and while I'd prefer a wider tank, I'm working with what I've got.

Groot will be staying put, thanks to my daughter's fondness for it. I'm open to suggestions and would love to add more plants, but my budget is limited at the moment.

[Lachlan]

I think you should still vacuum, just be careful around the roots of your new plants.

By the way, I noticed you mentioned java ferns and anubias as stem plants - they're actually rhizome plants, so it's best to keep them above the gravel.

Your tank looks great, and I love the idea of adding more plants - the Zorchnzon Sword and crypts will be a nice addition.

[boomer]

I'm going to take a guess that the sword plant in question is a larger variety, perhaps the Echinodorus grisebachii var. bleherae. If that's the case, I'd recommend placing it off to one side rather than in the centre. A central sword can create an optical illusion, making the tank appear smaller than it actually is, whereas an off-centre placement can create a sense of visual expansion.

Regarding your current vacuuming routine, how much detritus are you typically removing from the gravel? This organic matter is a valuable food source for your plants, and swords are particularly heavy feeders. The decomposition of these organics in the substrate is also a key source of CO2, so it's essential to avoid disrupting this process. When I vacuum, I focus on the open front areas, keeping a safe distance from the plants, wood, and rock to avoid causing any damage.

[rockyfox]

I'd vacuum lightly and keep it shallow, that way you avoid disturbing the roots and still get some of the debris out.

[Nellie]

Thanks for the feedback, I appreciate it. Yeah, I knew Java ferns and anubias weren't actually stem plants, I guess I didn't make that clear in my first post. I'll keep vacuuming the front and right side of the tank, and just leave the area around the new root plants alone.

[Nellie]

I'm going to take a guess that the sword plant in question is a larger variety, perhaps the Echinodorus grisebachii var. bleherae. If that's the case, I'd recommend placing it off to one side rather than in the centre. A central sword can create an optical illusion, making the tank appear smaller than it actually is, whereas an off-centre placement can create a sense of visual expansion.

Regarding your current vacuuming routine, how much detritus are you typically removing from the gravel? This organic matter is a valuable food source for your plants, and swords are particularly heavy feeders. The decomposition of these organics in the substrate is also a key source of CO2, so it's essential to avoid disrupting this process. When I vacuum, I focus on the open front areas, keeping a safe distance from the plants, wood, and rock to avoid causing any damage.

Thanks for the feedback, I'm thinking of placing the sword on the right side instead of the middle, maybe re-arranging the stones to create a different look. I've been using API leaf zone once a week after my 25% water change, and I don't notice too much detritus when I do my water changes, probably because the tank is still relatively lightly stocked with just a few fish.

[rockyfox]

I'm going to take a guess that the sword plant in question is a larger variety, perhaps the Echinodorus grisebachii var. bleherae. If that's the case, I'd recommend placing it off to one side rather than in the centre. A central sword can create an optical illusion, making the tank appear smaller than it actually is, whereas an off-centre placement can create a sense of visual expansion.

Regarding your current vacuuming routine, how much detritus are you typically removing from the gravel? This organic matter is a valuable food source for your plants, and swords are particularly heavy feeders. The decomposition of these organics in the substrate is also a key source of CO2, so it's essential to avoid disrupting this process. When I vacuum, I focus on the open front areas, keeping a safe distance from the plants, wood, and rock to avoid causing any damage.

If you're looking for an explosion of detritus, I'd recommend adding a couple of pond or bladder snails - they'll create a massive amount of waste in no time.

[Nellie]

I think I'll stick with my ramhorns, they've been doing a great job as a cleanup crew. I'll ease off on the vacuuming from now on. I've recently set up a sand-based tank, 150Ltr and wide, and I'm still figuring out the best way to vacuum the sand - it seems I might be taking out too much waste, haha.

[whetu]

Just the opposite here, I've never bothered with vacuuming and my plants seem to handle the waste just fine.

[Nellie]

Just the opposite here, I've never bothered with vacuuming and my plants seem to handle the waste just fine.

I've come across people who don't vacuum, but their tanks are way more planted than mine. I just wanted to be sure, since I'm still building up my plant collection. I think I'll stop vacuuming around the new plants, see how it goes.