How to clean my planted tank 2g

[Shaunsvds]

Hi guys, my parents recently bought a 2g tank and asked me to make it into a planted tank. They also bought fish from c328. They saw this uncle selling an aquarium set which included the tank, a filter and a air pump for $50, so they bought it. So I set up my tank and left it for 1 day, put these 2 chemicals that I bought from c328 as suggested by the uncle there (I will take a picture of it). I planted the tank and all and left it for one day as the uncle said after 2 days of putting the chemicals I could put fish. So my parents went ahead to buy the fish, not knowing how many fish to put in the tank. They came home with 1 starlight pleco, 6 endler guppies and 2 fancy guppies. 1 day after I bought the fish, one fAncy guppy had died. The next day one endler guppy died. I havent checked the water paremeters as the staff at c328 said all I had to do was cycle the tank. Later that day, I bought two small blackstripe rasbora's. I know the tAnk is overstocked but I cAnt just release the fishes. I am very worried about the tank now as the soil is quite dirty with fish flakes. What do I do? And how do I clean it? I am a beginner at this stuff... Thanks!

[qool]

For small tanks you can using turkey baster, but it need some training how to use it effectively. This is to suck up existing dirt.

For the future yoiu can consider:
1) Don't use flake food because I try before quite messy instead turn to tablet form food like sera o nip. After that use a feeding tray. These 2 ways combine should reduce the dirt going to your soil. Cleaning is still needed but surely less messy then now.

2) Get some pygmy corydoras to act as your cleaning crew they will help to finish unfinished food that is left on the soil. But be careful of the bioload don't overstock.

[Shaunsvds]

For small tanks you can using turkey baster, but it need some training how to use it effectively. This is to suck up existing dirt.

For the future yoiu can consider:
1) Don't use flake food because I try before quite messy instead turn to tablet form food like sera o nip. After that use a feeding tray. These 2 ways combine should reduce the dirt going to your soil. Cleaning is still needed but surely less messy then now.

2) Get some pygmy corydoras to act as your cleaning crew they will help to finish unfinished food that is left on the soil. But be careful of the bioload don't overstock.

Thank you for your reply qool. I was thinking of getting corridors however, the substrate I am using is the type that is used to improve plant growth and therefore the tank will become cloudy is corydoras use their barbles to sieve through the soil. Am I right? It is my first time using this type of soil substrate that improves plant growth.

[qool]

Pygmy corydoras not those big full size ones are sufficient: not that high bioload but will help make your tank cleaner. They wont have the strength to mess up the soil till your water gets cloudy. You should clean up your existing soil before getting them.

You are using which type of soil? Ada, Gex or?

[Shaunsvds]

Pygmy corydoras not those big full size ones are sufficient: not that high bioload but will help make your tank cleaner. They wont have the strength to mess up the soil till your water gets cloudy. You should clean up your existing soil before getting them.

You are using which type of soil? Ada, Gex or?

I am using H.E.L.P advanced soil for plants. But how do I clean the soil without making the water cloudy?

[qool]

use a turkey baster or a small siphon both are cheap solutions.