I have a 60 gallon. Gravel bottom. 1 Rena xP 2 and 1 AC70. The gravel is white and I can see brown stuff below the top layer thru the glass.
OK... Last time I vacuumed out the gravel and put the fish back, everyone got sick with Ick, And Tail Rot. It happened within 2 days of the cleaning. I have no way of knowing if it was related. I treated the whole tank with antibiotic and everyone now is well.
My question is, should I remove the gravel and should I bleach it next time? Is this the proper way to clean it, or is the vacuuming sufficient?
Full Version: Cleaning Gravel
I just use a gravel vac on mine. So I am thinking it might have just been a coinsadence. (but that's just MHO) But I would NOT bleach your gravel. If you think it needs a really good cleanning becuase of reacuring parasites, etc. I would just boil it.
The best way of cleaning your gravel, without taking everything out and causing a big disturbance not only in the clarity of the water, but also in the beneficial bacteria collonisation, use a gravel vac, like mentioned above. Or a python, another syphoning system that is rather simple.
Sink the bell end of the gravel vac or python straight into the gravel in a spot, and gently just lift the bell up and down, without going completely out of the gravel. That up-and-down motion loosens the accumulated dirt in the gravel, and through the sog gets pulled up the bell and out of the tank. I there is almost no more gunk visible going up the bell, gently get the bell out of that particular gravel spot, and sink it right into the spot next to it. Keep on going that way until you have done pretty much the whole gravel.
How big is your tank? I had gravel on my 160 gl tank, and it took me forever to get the gravel pythoned every single time. So I took out the gravel alltogether, gradually and over time, and went barebottom instead. If you have a smaller tank - good for you, there is less time involved then.
Sink the bell end of the gravel vac or python straight into the gravel in a spot, and gently just lift the bell up and down, without going completely out of the gravel. That up-and-down motion loosens the accumulated dirt in the gravel, and through the sog gets pulled up the bell and out of the tank. I there is almost no more gunk visible going up the bell, gently get the bell out of that particular gravel spot, and sink it right into the spot next to it. Keep on going that way until you have done pretty much the whole gravel.
How big is your tank? I had gravel on my 160 gl tank, and it took me forever to get the gravel pythoned every single time. So I took out the gravel alltogether, gradually and over time, and went barebottom instead. If you have a smaller tank - good for you, there is less time involved then.
It is important to clean the tank every week, but you want to clean properly....you can OVERCLEAN or UNDERCLEAN. I always get all my stuff ready & begin. I hook up my Python & lay the hose out . About once a month I do a really good cleaning. (I never remove my fish).
A regular weekly cleaning: I vacuum the gravel. I really swish the barrel around into the gravel to work up any "eckies" down in there. I get under the decorations & even lift them up to remove any water that can stagnate in there. I remove about 35% to 50% of the water. I rinse the sponges in the outgoing water. Then while refilling I add Prime.
Once monthly: I get in and gravel vac really good.I really stir into the gravel & get under everything & into all corners. I pull out any decorations that look "dirty" & scrub them under the outgoing water (no cleaning products just elbow grease & a "fish only" toothbrush). I scrape the walls of the tank of any algae (dern that stuff!) I wipe the "above water" part of the glass with a nice clean cloth. I remove the cover & wipe it down. Then I clean the filter: I rinse the sponge & ceramic rings in the outgoing water & vacuum the tank part of the filter. I run 3 filters & usually clean the 2 AQ's & skip the canister. (I'll rinse the canister the following week.)
I find that only rinsing in the outgoing water I don't mess up the cycle.
Once the proper amount has been removed & cleaning is done. I refill (add Prime) & re-do my decorations!
A regular weekly cleaning: I vacuum the gravel. I really swish the barrel around into the gravel to work up any "eckies" down in there. I get under the decorations & even lift them up to remove any water that can stagnate in there. I remove about 35% to 50% of the water. I rinse the sponges in the outgoing water. Then while refilling I add Prime.
Once monthly: I get in and gravel vac really good.I really stir into the gravel & get under everything & into all corners. I pull out any decorations that look "dirty" & scrub them under the outgoing water (no cleaning products just elbow grease & a "fish only" toothbrush). I scrape the walls of the tank of any algae (dern that stuff!) I wipe the "above water" part of the glass with a nice clean cloth. I remove the cover & wipe it down. Then I clean the filter: I rinse the sponge & ceramic rings in the outgoing water & vacuum the tank part of the filter. I run 3 filters & usually clean the 2 AQ's & skip the canister. (I'll rinse the canister the following week.)
I find that only rinsing in the outgoing water I don't mess up the cycle.
Once the proper amount has been removed & cleaning is done. I refill (add Prime) & re-do my decorations!
I just wanted to toss in another observation....
If you have ich (a parasite actually - and not affected by antibiotics!) in your tank, it can be lying, dormant in the gravel of the tank. Any time there is a stressed or injured fish, the ich organism will pop up and opportunitically take over - infected your fish. It is difficult to totally get rid of the ich that is dormant in the gravel. In its encysted from, it is imperious to most treatments. This means that you will need to keep a close eye on your fish anytime you add a new fish, have it become colder than normal, or any other disease or stress is seen.
(Getting rid of the gravel will rid you of the ich, too! I am a fan of bare bottoms, too!
)
If you have ich (a parasite actually - and not affected by antibiotics!) in your tank, it can be lying, dormant in the gravel of the tank. Any time there is a stressed or injured fish, the ich organism will pop up and opportunitically take over - infected your fish. It is difficult to totally get rid of the ich that is dormant in the gravel. In its encysted from, it is imperious to most treatments. This means that you will need to keep a close eye on your fish anytime you add a new fish, have it become colder than normal, or any other disease or stress is seen.
(Getting rid of the gravel will rid you of the ich, too! I am a fan of bare bottoms, too!
)
you shouldnt have to remove your fish to siphon the gravel. that just stresses the fish when you move them in and out of the tank. i still do the old school way of cleaning gravel. i just jam my siphon tool into the gravel and jiggle it and move my way up and down.
I had my tanks bare bottomed for awhile but I just like the look of the gravel. 
Plus (and this will sound weird I am certain) but.....I ENJOY CLEANING MY TANKS! I do it every weekend & I like it!
Plus (and this will sound weird I am certain) but.....I ENJOY CLEANING MY TANKS! I do it every weekend & I like it!
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