How long is it safe not to gravel vac?

Falina

It seems some cory fry that came from eggs hatching on the side of the glass have survived! I rarely see them but when I do I have to look really really close because they're tiny and also they're kinda the same colour as the gravel. I've been putting off doing a gravel vac because I'm terrified I end up killing them while I do it. How long can I put this off for before it becomes unsafe for the rest of the tank?

If I just disturb the gravel a bit weekly so that anaerobic spots aren't a worry, is it alright to leave it for quite a while as long as I monitor parameters carefully?

fish_4_all

That's a tough one. I have have never had cory babies survive in with other fish in the gravel and I do regular gravel vacs.

I would say that as long as you keep the gravel stirred up a little that it will help to prevent anarobic pockets. I wouldn't go too long though because the anarobic pockets can be deep and buid up fairly fast. Maybe try to catch the babies if you can and put them in a net breeder or something.

Falina

Thanks F4A.

I do have them in a breeder net because most of the eggs were laid on a leave however in the past 3-4 days I have noticed a few that must have survived from the eggs that laid on the glass, which I didn't remove to a breeder net.

I have tried to catch them but it is so difficult! They are hiding very well, which will be why they haven't been eaten yet. I did manage to capture 1, but there are another 2 and constantly "running about" with the net is stressing my other fish so I have left them.

I will stir up the gravel frequently and then perhaps start some sort of rota: vaccing small sections one at a time, but every day or so, so that I can be certain that the fry aren't at a certain point, and then move onto different sections each day. It will be a royal pain in the behind, but I don't want to kill them.

Thanks for the help.