Tank Cleaning Around Plants

[Rickyegrant]

Hi there ive got a recently new tank setup a 48x12x18 ft south american bio tope or will be when its running well. What i want to know is i have echinodorus tenellus growing at the front of my tank and they are sending out runners how do i clean the gravel around them i seem to just suck up and disturb the plants when im trying to clean any debris up. I would like to create a carpet effect but just seem to be making a mess.

8 rummy tetra
2 dwarf chi
4 midget sucker catfish
8 dwarf ottos
1 brittle nose cat
ph 7.02
kh3
c02 8.59
NO2 0.3

 

[idlefingers]

try using a thin pipe to syphon the much out. the thinner it is, the better your aim will be and you'll disturb less, but it'll block quickly. Try to find a happy medium. When I had a planted tank, I used a 9mm pipe to syphon.