Are You Supposed To Clean Ur Gravel Every Water Change?

[snowballPLECO]

Or no? Currently cycling.. so much info to learn

 

[ljg]

No, you don't need to clean your gravel every water change. I would clean it every 4 to 5 weeks. Make sure that you don't use any type of soap or cleaning agent.

 

[yukondog]

Not really, but it doesn't hurt, I lightly do a gravel vac. every time I do a W/C.

 

[Lunnietic]

I think every 4-5 weeks sounds a bit to long in my opinion. However, I wouldn't really worry about cleaning the gravel until you have your cycle completed.

I have sand and do mine every 2-3 weeks. I would do it every other week before getting corydoras. (They usually keep my sand pretty clean).

 

[AquaticJ]

I don't see why you wouldn't, you're already using the tube anyway, why let anything build up?

 

[Lunnietic]

I don't see why you wouldn't, you're already using the tube anyway, why let anything build up?

Not everyone uses a tube for every water change. I don't during every. Especially because I have a 20 gallon high without a lid. Usually I am just replacing what has evaporated off. (Usually between 2 gallons every 3 days or so).

 

[snowballPLECO]

thanks for the response guys, I really wish my local fish stores gave more info instead of pushing product on you..

 

[AquaticJ]

Not everyone uses a tube for every water change. I don't during every. Especially because I have a 20 gallon high without a lid. Usually I am just replacing what has evaporated off. (Usually between 2 gallons every 3 days or so).

That's not a water change though, that's just topping off your tank.

However, you should wait until you're cycled to vac anyway.

 

[Lunnietic]

That's not a water change though, that's just topping off your tank.

Ive seen some count it as a water change since you are adding more water to the tank.

 

[AquaticJ]

thanks for the response guys, I really wish my local fish stores gave more info instead of pushing product on you..

I work at a LFS and I'm so honest with people, like I don't push needless products. I want them to do what's best for their fish.

@Lunnietic Yeah my 29 doesn't have a lid, I feel your pain lol.

 

[Hunter1]

Until you are cycled I wouldn’t vacuum the gravel because some beneficial bacteria grows there and you don’t want to disturb it.

Afterwards, I would recommend doing 1/2 the tank with each weekly water change.

 

[Kristian Acevedo]

I have sand, so I vacuum the poop up weekly. In my gravel bottom 10gal I do it every 2 weeks

 

[Goldiemom]

I think a lot depends on what type fish you have. In my Goldie tank I vacuum each time due to the bio load they produce. I do a pwc on Weds. and tank cleaning on Sunday. I vac both times but leave about 1/3 untouched then switch sides the next time. My tropical tank doesn’t need it but once/wk. I feel like AquaticJ. If the tube is in there, why not suck up what you can?

 

[Dch48]

Ive seen some count it as a water change since you are adding more water to the tank.

But, you are not reducing any buildup of Nitrates or other things unless you actually take water out of the tank and replace it with new. Evaporation just makes the chemical concentrations in the water go up.

 

[SixThreeOh]

I always gravel vac.

 

[Mick Frost]

thanks for the response guys, I really wish my local fish stores gave more info instead of pushing product on you..

They're salespeople. Their job descriptions emphasize upsales. It's an unfortunate fact of life in our commercialist world.
On the vacuuming topic, I'm in my tanks nearly every day with a turkey baster stirring up whatever is on the bottom (pool filter sand mostly), and let the filters do their job. If the filters are dirty, or if the water isn't clear in less than 10 mins, it's time to vac and WC.

 

[CanadianFishFan]

For me it depends, I will gravel vac once every 2-3 weeks. (Like deep clean gravel vac and stir up all the gravel and take all the plants out). But for weekly water changes i take some water out and maybe even lightly go across the surface for uneaten food. My tank with sand was much easyer then gravel.

 

[DarkOne]

Ive seen some count it as a water change since you are adding more water to the tank.

You should look for a leak or something. 2g every few days is more than just evaporation and not a substitute for water changes. Evaporation just removes pure H2O and not TDS and waste in the water column.

If you vacuum your gravel, I highly recommend you do half of your tank one week and the other half the following week. There is no reason to have spotless gravel other than visual appeal. BB grow in your gravel and doing it too much can cause a mini-cycle. I have BDBS and surface skim any detritus weekly but rarely dig into the substrate.

 

[Lunnietic]

You should look for a leak or something. 2g every few days is more than just evaporation and not a substitute for water changes. Evaporation just removes pure H2O and not TDS and waste in the water column.

If you vacuum your gravel, I highly recommend you do half of your tank one week and the other half the following week. There is no reason to have spotless gravel other than visual appeal. BB grow in your gravel and doing it too much can cause a mini-cycle. I have BDBS and surface skim any detritus weekly but rarely dig into the substrate.

I have to keep my apartment at 82 room temp. Its not a leak, I just have terrible joints and need really warm air. Its a 100% acrylic tank.

Also, I didn't say that I just used thay as water changes just that I have seen topping it off be called water changes.

 

[ljg]

I just leave the undersurface of my gravel pretty much untouched until I do a 50% water change. Every 4-5 weeks when I do a complete water change, I clean off 4/5 of my gravel and leave the rest of it scattered within the tank.