honestly having a pond where you propogate your own plants sounds like the way to go ultimately. thats what i want to do some day, that way I woulnt have to continiously ship in plants for my hungry aquatic buddies. Also I think the greater amount of biodiversity within a tank, the better! Always wanted to create a sort of self sustaining ecosystem within my tanks where I just have to add water and the occasional microorganism culture.
I used to be worried about not vacuuming the substrate but when I see my little loaches digging into the substrate it looks like they’re doing it for me!
MTS?!?? OMG, I didn't know that!! I mean, I know all animals are useful in their own rights, but I'm always terrified of getting those little guys in my tank. The only thing I would be concerned about if I got them is them booming out of control based on how much I have to feed my mysteries (else they start going for my floating plants, particularly the females before they lay). Are they the type of snail thats capable of asexual reproduction and/or full hermaphroditism?
I wouldn't call it a complete waste of time depending on your stocking level, clean up crew, and personal preference. I decided I will likely do a quick vaccum once every few months just to aerate any pockets of the soil that need it, and get in those corners where the filter and bottom feeders don't quite reach.
