gravel vacuum vs decorations?

Aquarius Keeper

So I'm wondering - I was adding a little decor the the aquarium and ended up covering so much of the gravel (I have a very tall skinny aquarium) I am wondering how much vacuuming I'm actually going to be able to do. What's the general idea here, am I supposed to be taking the decorations OUT to vacuum the tank??

In particular, I have one of this 14" tall round roman temples which takes up almost half of my floor space (I got it so I could put a bowl with gravel and plants on top of it and create a second "floor" closer to the surface) - that thing covers so much surface area, I don't know how much waste could really get in underneath it, and also, it would be a huge (apocalyptic from the fishes perspective) thing to pull it all the way out of the aquarium all the time.

Whats the general rule for vacuuming and decorations, and especially giant decorations?

Thanks!

Jonathan

Aquarius Keeper

Was this just a dumb question?

Some folks on antother forum got me worried talking about toxic gas bubbles building up in un-vacuumed gravel and killing fish instantly, that's why I'm asking...

jeaninel

For large decorations I would probably vacuum under it once a month.

Aquarius Keeper

Okay! I guess I will have post-apocalytic fish! ;)

Flashygrrl

Eh...they won't care as much as you think they will :)

Aquarius Keeper

Yeah, "post apocalyptic" fish was a bad joke.

I just meant, you know, the temple is being uprooted, the world is ending!

But then, five minutes later, it's all cool. What if I just bury the decoration in gravel and have it against the glass - can I just vacuum around it then?

Flashygrrl

You should still lift it up. You'd be surprised how much will accumulate right next to it where the vac really can't get to it that well.

Tyyrlym

Your fish will be fine with it. I've been fighting brown algae and every week I tear down a good bit of the aquarium to scrub it clean and then put it back. The fish will just roll with the punches.