Plants looking good, fish are happy, water tests are fine, and there's a thick dark line across the front of the tank, deep down in the dwarf hairgrass. Do I just leave it there for the plants to use? I seldom gravel vacuum anymore because everything is grown over and I can't get to the bottom anyway. And, thanks to AC members who helped identify the new resident in my tank as Riccia a few weeks ago. Tackful
Mulm: Leave It or Remove It?
- Thread starter tackful
- Start date
mellowvision
Seafood Lover
I'd leave it. I only gravel vac my tank once every dozen or so water changes, which in my case is about every 3-4 months and it is fine.
if you can get to it with out messing up the plants go for it. if your going to have tear up the roots dont bother.
If you swish around over the plants and it floats up, then I'd vac it out (by swishing), otherwise don't bother.
Light vacuuming can help keep things clean and tidy.
But never enough to uproot anything. No deep vacuuming etc, unless it's after a replanting/uprooting and you replant the tops only. And only if it's an older tank, 1-2 years since you last uprooted that spot.
Then you can deep vacuum that spot.
I did this in 1/4 tank area portions once a week till the entire tank has been deep vac'ed about once every 1-2 years.
Regards,
Tom Barr
But never enough to uproot anything. No deep vacuuming etc, unless it's after a replanting/uprooting and you replant the tops only. And only if it's an older tank, 1-2 years since you last uprooted that spot.
Then you can deep vacuum that spot.
I did this in 1/4 tank area portions once a week till the entire tank has been deep vac'ed about once every 1-2 years.
Regards,
Tom Barr
If the dirt shows against the glass, use a credit card or similar to scrape down into the substrate without messing up the plants.