Who Gives A Fish Forums

What's the best way to clean a heavily planted tank without uprooting everything? I've got a 40 gallon with Amazon Swords, Java Fern, and some Crypts. The substrate's a mess, but I don't wanna wreck the roots.

Just siphon around the plants, dude. It's not rocket science. I've got a 20 gallon with way more plants, and I just wiggle the siphon like a weird dance. Works every time.

A gentle approach is key. Use a gravel vacuum with a narrow tube to target debris between plants. For Amazon Swords, avoid disturbing the root crown. Crypts are tougher, but still, go slow. How often are you doing water changes?

floranz wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 5:31 pm Just siphon around the plants, dude. It's not rocket science. I've got a 20 gallon with way more plants, and I just wiggle the siphon like a weird dance. Works every time.

Yeah, I've tried that, but my substrate's super fine sand. It just sucks up the sand too. Maybe I need a different siphon head?

For sand, use a siphon with a wider opening and higher flow control. You can also hover the siphon just above the sand to pull debris without disturbing it. What filter are you running? A good filter can reduce the need for deep cleaning.

Sand's a pain, man. I switched to gravel just to avoid that mess. But if you're stuck with it, maybe try a turkey baster for spot cleaning. Sounds dumb, but it works for me when I'm too lazy to siphon.

floranz wrote: ↑Wed Jun 04, 2025 7:25 pm Sand's a pain, man. I switched to gravel just to avoid that mess. But if you're stuck with it, maybe try a turkey baster for spot cleaning. Sounds dumb, but it works for me when I'm too lazy to siphon.

The turkey baster trick is actually solid for spot cleaning. Another option is to add Malaysian Trumpet Snails. They burrow and keep the sand aerated, reducing debris buildup.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll try the wider siphon and maybe grab some snails. Appreciate the help!