Cleaning Tank

[Ohdee]

I want to know about weekly water changes. I’ve been destroying my tank weekly. I totally remove two large pieces of driftwood. I also move all the rocks. I do this so I can properly vacuum the substrate. I usually do half the tank one week and the other side the next week. Is it ok to do this?

Will slightly re-arranging the tank every week confuse the fish that like their own territory? I put stuff back where it was but it's never exactly the same. If I don’t move the driftwood and rocks I can’t really clean as well as I think I should.

Also, I’ve added a pleco and that thing always has a poo hanging from him. Now that I’ve stocked my tank and I’m up to 13 fish can I do water changes twice a week to keep the poo in check?

 

[jourdy288]

Typically, you won't want to remove decor unless necessary, it is pretty disturbing to the fish. If you can displace it enough to take care of the sediment and such, that's excellent, but otherwise, it really does confuse territory a bit IIRC.
I'm not sure about the hanging feces on your pleco, though, what type do you have?

 

[Ohdee]

I'm not sure about the hanging feces on your pleco, though, what type do you have?

Thanks for the advice.

The Plec is a Bristlenose pooping machine. (my tank had some serious algae and she's been working her butt off cleaning so I'm not too upset over the poop)

 

[Gilli]

I disagree. I always take everything out of my tank to give it a thorough vac as I have 2 plecs and you really do need to keep the debis down as they produce a lot!. Also your nitrates creep up if there is too much debris in the tank.I would keep a eye on your water stats and if you see your nitrates creeping up you can do 2 water changes a week.

By changing things around you keep it interesting for the fish and it shouldnt worry them at all.

Please dont think your plec can just survive on algae in your tank. They need fresh veg, some live frozen foods algae wafers and a piece of bogwood to keep them healthy.

 

[KkAaNnEe]

I don;t personally think its the changing around that will affect them, more the physical moving of all the decor might scare the fish, as long as you take it easy you should be fine, and always leave a corner for the fish to feel safe...