The spot the Python won't reach

[Matak]

I have a nice three foot log of driftwood that is weighted on one end and floats freely on the other. In front of it is a rather large feature rock that blocks access to the gravel under half the log. It hasn't been cleaned in about three months. The tank bottom is three square feet, and the inaccessable area is about 1/3 of a square foot (4" X 12"). Is this a potential disaster? BTW, it is a moderately planted tank. The rest of my tank specs are here

 

[KateA.]

Possibly. A lot of crud will build up there. You should try to move it at some point and vac under there.

Katie

 

[Dahlia]

I have spots like that. I don't clean it every time I vacuum, but I do every 3rd-5th time or so. I always wonder how crap gets UNDER rocks and such when there is no UGF or anything else to pull it there. The gravel is full of it though each time.

 

[RTR]

You do not need any extra force to load the substrate with mulm - it will by nature sift downward with time, just as sand will migrate down through gravel over time.

One technique is to use plants with spreading roots (Swords and Crinums are paticularly strong at this) behind and near the unplantable area.

 

[Matak]

I have swords within 6" of the covered area.