How to maintain plants when changing or vacuuming gravel

[houiej]

For aquascapes, what's the recommended method for maintenance if I want to vacuum the gravel or substrate? I read somewhere that toxic gases can collect so it is best to occasionally stir up the gravel. In that case, wouldn't the plants be affected/dug up, especially moss that forms a carpet over the gravel?

[benjaminong88]

Are you using gravel or aquatic soil for your set-up? If you are using aquatic soil, there is no need to vaccum the gravel I think.

[jiajuen900]

For aquascapes, what's the recommended method for maintenance if I want to vacuum the gravel or substrate? I read somewhere that toxic gases can collect so it is best to occasionally stir up the gravel. In that case, wouldn't the plants be affected/dug up, especially moss that forms a carpet over the gravel?

It depends on the scape, but we usually do not heavily vacuum the subtrate even if it is gravel in planted tanks.

About toxic gases, never heard of it, no comment . But we generally do no want to stir up the subtrate much. The subtrate, will contain alot of bacteria and decomposing matter. It will also contain alot of nutrients which will build up over time or have been purposly placed in the subtrate for plant usage. Stiring up the subtrate would mean releasing ammonia, ferts, the plants rooting and could possibly affect bacteria and other chemical proccesses.

Although in some scapes there are sand paths, beaches, etc. Using those fine white sand that are planted. Most aquarist lightly vacum the top to get rid of fish waste.

Other times when most of the tank is heavily planted we would not heavily vacuum those areas as it is troublesome and may not be a neccesity. But light vacumming is occasionally done my people.

[BFG]

For aquascapes, what's the recommended method for maintenance if I want to vacuum the gravel or substrate? I read somewhere that toxic gases can collect so it is best to occasionally stir up the gravel. In that case, wouldn't the plants be affected/dug up, especially moss that forms a carpet over the gravel?

If you are using sand WITHOUT any base fert, kinda like a fish only setup, you should vacuum the gravel. Built up of detritus and uneaten fish food that would sunk into or are buried accidentally by fishes will cause these toxic gas to built up due to food being rotting in the sand. The thicker the sand, the higher chance the gas built up may occur so it's a good habit to practise. In a planted tank, with healthy plants and root growth, you may not need to do a vacuum gravel but you could vacuum areas where dead spot occur due to low water movement. Detritus might accumulate at these area.

Hope this helps!