Water changes
 

when you gravel vac, do you just vacuum the top of the gravel or do you really mix it up good and release all the trapped debris? I tend to stir up the gravel real well, which makes the tank cloudy for a day, but I feel it is much cleaner that way.

I clean the same way, going all the way into the gravel, really getting in there and moving ti around. Normally mine will stay cloudy for about 10-30 minutes and the tank clears up again. Sometimes if it is really bad and there is debris floating around I just run the net through and scoop it out.

yeah i've done that, too, with the net.

I give it a good stir after the intail gravel vac, leave it for 10mins then go back and do another quick blast. 10mins or so its nice and clear.

What kind of tool are you using to do the gravel vac?

When I gravel vac with a Python syphon, I dig down deep with a twisting motion, then slowly bring the syphon tube up slowly, letting the gravel mix and float and then fall down, while the detritus gets sucked up. I wait until the gravel settles, then I shift over. Doing so, doesn't stir any of the detritus to float around in the tank. My water never gets cloudy, unless I get lazy and shift over the syphon tube before the gravel settles.

Thanks eddie, that's the information I was looking for... wondering about... gravel vac'ing should never have to stir the gravel enough to cloud the tank, especially not for a day or more.
If gravel vacs are done regularly, and the tank is not overfed, there shouldn't be a lot of debris coming up from the gravel.

i do a gravel vac about once every 2 to 3 weeks and when i do its just the top layer as i dont want to uproot my roots from the plants.

Gravel Vac
 

I have been away from raising fish for about 38 years and have decided to start again. Is there a time limit between vaccuming the gravel or some rule of thumb thing. I have a 30 gallon taank that has finally settled in nice and clear with a gold fish in it. I'm just gathering info for my head so that I can get back into the groove again. Thanks in advance guys and gals.

Once a week is usually the norm for WC (water changes) and/or Gravel vacs. With adequate filtration, ammonia and nitrIte levels will remain safe with extended periods between WC/Gravel vacs, unfortunately, this only increases the nitrAte levels. Low levels of NitrAtes are usually safe and less stressful to most fish.

Using a proper water test kit, an increased amount of ammonnia, nitrIte and/or nitrAte levels can commonly and easily be removed by water changes, but can also be removed with products, such as carbon, zeolite, nitrite/nitrate removers, etc.