I have to respectfully disagree with this statement. You can vacuum your substrate, you just need to be careful not to take out the substrate when you do. If you use the right substrate, you don't need to worry about losing nutrients as there will be plenty for the plants.:yes:In the top tank im using pool filter sand which has no PH buffering proprties in it, and a black quarts substrate which is for planted tanks, I have a thin layer of clay underneath the substrate, the bottom tank is common aquarium gravel with pathes of black quarts, it also has a layer of clay underneath, one key to a planted tank is to never vaccum the substrate because you will lose all your essential nutrients which are required for plant growth. And the background on the first tank is only a 2D background but looks 3D from a distance.
Nice tank, one of the advantages of sand is that you don't need to vacuum the substrate, because there aren't the big gaps you get with pea gravel all the mulm, faeces and uneaten food sits on the top of the sand. You can then syphon it out from just above the substrate. Personally I like a bit of mulm and biofilm in my tanks.well I have found that when I do vac the substrate that my plants dont grow well, yes pool filter sand isnt the best substrate on its own to grow plants but it is working so im not going to stop using it,
Got ya. Once you go dirt, you will get addicted. Lol.well I have found that when I do vac the substrate that my plants dont grow well, yes pool filter sand isnt the best substrate on its own to grow plants but it is working so im not going to stop using it, but my next tank will be dirted.