Interesting observation.

[excuzzzeme]

While vacuuming my tanks I always watch the tube to see how much junk I get up. One thing I have noticed, the tanks that are heavily planted have little mulm in the substrate. It appears I have barely any in spite of the heavy stocking. Has anyone else noticed this?

 

[noodles62]

I have noticed that since changing to a plant substrate (eco complete) that I really do not even need to vac the bottom at all, I just syphon water out....the substrate seems to break down all the "poo" even when my tank is heavily stocked...I love it! LOL

 

[jamesstill84]

I don't gravel vac my planted tanks at all. I just siphon water out and add new. The plants grow really well with all the mulm in the substrate.

 

[StereoKills]

Natural fertilizer.

 

[bazil323]

I get some at the top or on leaves, but I don't really do gravel vacs otherwise in my heavily planted tank areas. Like stereokills said, it's natural fertilizer.

 

[kyryah]

I don't dig around in the substrate either. I let my MTS do that, and otherwise I let the mulm settle and fertilize the plants. In tanks such as my blackwater set up where there is a lot of leaf litter and other bits on the bottom anyway, it looks more natural.

Kristina

 

[Wycco]

I don't dig around in the substrate either. I let my MTS do that,

I've read contradicting reports on whether stirring the substrate is even necessary... I do it (where there arn't plant roots)- just in case.

MTS though don't do deep stirring- they only stir the top 1/4 to 1/2 inch- if you have anaerobic bacteria it's probably going to be deeper than that anyway- so despite MTS being sold as substrate stirrers- they certainly don't replace a good stir. (if a good stir is indeed needed).



As for vacuuming- I'm doing it less and less as my plants take over more and more (and I get more baby shrimp)- I may relegate it to a once a month thing- there really isn't many places in the tank I can reach the vaccuum down to anymore.

 

[Jaykit]

My planted tanks never get the gravel vacuumed anymore. Just seems silly to take junk out that later becomes an aid to the plants. Just siphon off the top and replace. Once your tank has been established for a while as well you will have all the bacteria cleaning some of it up as well.

 

[fishorama]

In 1 tank there's a big bunch of rotala that catches lots of detritus so I vac that. I don't want my loaches sticking their noses in a lot of poo. Other than that I mostly just surface vac.