So I was forced to stuff the filter with seasoned media from another tank. Sigh.

This was a total absolute CRASH. Gone. Nothing left. sigh. (It was a suggested treatment for "guppie disease" from the breeder. He swore that it would not affect the cycle. HA!)

Anyway............... question..........

What do all of you with planted tanks do to clean the gravel of the tank? If I do a deep clean, it disturbs the plant's roots and must do harm to the plants. I am loathe to do that, but if I do not, the tank gets absolutely gross! I deep cleaned yesterday and the dark goo - almost black goo, that came from the bottom of the gravel was impressively nasty! Poor babies. (Now I know why I love bare bottomed goldie tanks!!!!)

So - do you uproot plants or do you let the goo grow? No wonder I have those little critters running around in that tank!

hi daryl
plants i have heard only use their roots for anchorage and feed mostly through the leaves. i vac as close as i can to the plants and even if i get the roots uncovered i just let the gravel fall back on them. ive had my plants a few months now and they dont seem to mind being disturbed, ive even uprooted them and replanted without doing any damage.

I've uprooted my plants when necessary, with no problems.
bw
cupoftea

Daryl, I barely vaccuum into the gravel of my planted tank, but the tank is so full with plants right now that I have to take some out to actually see the tropicals. The few inches I vaccuum every now and then and plants get uprooted, not a biggy - I just put them back in....