Cleaning tanks without messing it up so badly

[frannyscho]

I am a secondary stage newbie, so general advice would be lovely. Every time I clean the tank with my new and super special suction gravel thing, It just messes up all the plants and gravel to such a degree that I nearly end up redesigning the layout every time. All the little plants just get uprooted. I'm not a careless or clumsy person. Am I just being too thorough, should i only hoover the places of high traffic (poo)? Also all my plants are growing too fast for the size of the tank (45gal), and growing lots of arial roots along them so it resembles a mangrove swamp...plus lots of green algae... should I constantly be pinching the tops out and cleaning the glass? I have two tubes that came with the tank, so presumably suitable. I have been reading a bit about this too but all the CO2 and pressuring the tank etc. advice just confused me. I have had the lights on less, now about 12 hours a day.

Is all this just normal stuff in fishkeeping? or should it all be reaching a happy equilibrium in a way I have yet to discover?

 

[Mo_loves_fish]

plants you need to trim
and the gravel cleaner that is normal the waste is gunna fly around whitch is actually good b/c the filter will suck up alot of water born waste
your doing fine continue

 

[jimbooo]

hi frannyscho, it sounds like you need a bit of advice on the plant front. before i go off on one with a massive reply post your tank stats in the planted section.

ie a list of hardwear (tank size, wattage of lighting, fish, plants, gravel/sand, weather you use fertaliser etc...) then list the problems you are experiencing.

gf225 (mod), zig, hondour, canoechiq, nodding_dino and myself to name a few "experienced planted tank keepers" will all be more than willing to point you back on track. plants are much more difficult to get going and look after than fish but once you've cracked it you will never need to vacuum your gravel (just take water from the surface) and the fish will love you for it.

not to blow my own trumpet so to speak but take a look at my sig link to photos. i've only been into this for 18 months, it's a bit daunting at first but once you get there you will undoubtably be over the moon with your tank and the fishies more so.

James

 

[frannyscho]

I will find the info and post. Thanks. Your tank is mega fabby. I would love mine to look halfway like that.