I just put some plants into my tank and added a couple snails. Every week when I vaccuum my gravel it gets so stirred up and gross. I don't feel as if my filter is pulling enough in. It's an aqua tech cheapy from Walmart. Would bare bottom be easier to clean? I don't mind vaccuuming a couple times a week. I already do. I don't have a biowheel though. Would this even be possible? Or should I try river rock? I can tell this bothers my fish. I have begun feeding her on top of some driftwood as I think she misses food due to poor eyesight and this is part of the problem. I also think the lighting in my tank is not sufficient to support some types of plants and this is contributing.

I'd imagine your filter doesn't have enough oomph for the volume of fish poop.

You could add a filter or, as you say, go bare bottom.

My goldfish tanks are completely bare, including bottom and they are far easier to clean than gravel. However, you do occassionally have poop in the tank, which stands out more.

Slugger

A few threads below this one, there is a thread about Lance's tank before and after. If you haven't read it already, take a look. In that, toothless has a great idea to extend your intake tube to the gravel in your tank to pick up more. I am going to try it since I think my filter is lacking a bit too. Good luck.

Here's the thread: http://www.kokosgoldfish.invisionzone.com/...showtopic=29630

Yup. I read that one and already have a note in my purse on the tubing size so I can get it at home depot this week. Great minds think alike it seems.

I was thinking about getting another filter as Slugger suggested and keeping them both running. I think the snails are just nastier than I anticipated and all my plant blunders are leaving some mess behind that I miss when I only gravel vac for a 30% water change. I am doing a 50% today and extending the intake sometime this week.
I'll do anither 50% this weekend and hopefully that will make it maneagable. If not, I'll have to get another filter. I wanted a biowheel anyway. I just wanted to wait a few months. I keep spending and spending. Soon, the hubby will lock up my wallet.

Great suggestions! I appreciate the help.