I use a Python for water changes and I only use the gravel vac piece to
lightly and easily clean 2 sections of the bottom where there are no plants
to remove buildup of crud. I never go deeper than 3 or 4 gravel pellets and
mainly I'm doing it to remove surface scum and that's it. I never use the
gravel vac in any other fashion.

IMO, you are overly using your gravel vac.

OAN, when filling your tank using the Python, submerge the gravel vac piece
and fill it with water....now when you open the valve all the way, it
doesn't create a whirlpool in your tank.

"Dinky" wrote in message
...

"Ghazanfar Ghori" wrote in message
et...


BTW - you don't need to gravel vac in a planted aquarium. Just suck the
mulm off the surface.


IME, if there are any open areas where the plants root systems do not
reach,
the mulm will still build up and eventually cause problems. If you have
solid plants from one end to the other, I'd agree with your statement.

billy