Jay

I'm a little uncomfortable with that statement. The beneficial bacteria or nitrifying bacteria we colonize during the cycling of our tanks, have nothing to do with detritus other than consuming the ammonia and nitrite released by Heterotrophic bacteria.

Vacuuming the gravel no mater how thoroughly will have no effect on our beneficial (nitrifying) bacteria.

Heterotrophic bacteria, the bacteria which acts on detritus, uneaten food etc. is always in abundant supply. Vacuuming out detritus, uneaten food, and other organic waste should be a priority. You will never be able to vacuum enough of this bacteria out to cause a problem

In other words, vacuum away, and keep up with water changes.

Regards,
Jay

orb4me

Correction:::::: air pump is blowing the air stone. The tubing that I can hear sucking air is blowing air out of the UGF return.

E46er

before my tank was planted i have gravel substrate and i used to vacuum the hell out of it every 3 or 4 days (tank was severly overstocked) but i kept up with the WC and LOTS of vacumming and never had an ammonia or nitrite spike

__________________


33 G
Heavily planted
CO2 injected

salt so far i got
120G (4X2x2) with dual overflows drilled for CL
stand canopy
iron might pump for CL
euro reef rs135
40 G breeder sump
coralife 2-150W MH lights with 4-65W PC
coralife 4-65W PC light

tropical1

ok i am good now. so i can vacuum as much as i want and not have a problem. i only vacuum once a week right now but i am about to start every 3 days to get the water clarity right. deleting the bubble strip already made a improvment on claritty.