What is the best way to clean my aquarium?

What is the best way to clean substrate in a planted aquarium?

• I'm using Fluorite Substrate, and I have some plants who have finely and deeply planted their roots into the substrate, and I was wondering how I can clean without disturbing them.

• Answer:

  Hi, If we are talking about SeaChem's Fluorite, a clay material that is just about the perfect substrate for growing plants, at least that's opinion. Or another brand of the same type of product, it really doesn't matter. But the way I clean mine is with a gravel cleaner also a long thin stick. (depending on how big your tank is and how densely planted it is will depend on the size of the gravel cleaner you use) On the siphon hose I have put an in line tap above the gravel cleaner, so I can adjust the flow rate of suction when I get closer to the plants, make it just enough to lift the substrate and pull the waste out then let the substrate fall back to the floor. Use the stick in the areas where you can't get the gravel cleaner and stir the substrate, I hover the gravel cleaner over this to lift the waste. I'm very careful around the plant roots and usually only go as close as an inch or inch and half depending on the type of plant. Hope this helps.