About 45 minutes for my 4'x18"x18" every two weeks reg 40% WC. Every other
2nd week 60 minutes inc WC, light gravel vac on 2"x18" jungle of val &
cleaning the spay bar from BBA and thinning out plants. Every 4 months 80
minutes inc WC, val vac, spray bar and glass scraping to get rid of spot
algae and finally about 30 minutes every 4(closer to 6 months) for cleaning
the cannister filter or 50 minutes every other 6 months cleaning the
cannister hoses with my trusty McD shake machine cleaning brushes and the
Co2 reactor with high pressure water and shaking.

"Bill Stock" wrote in message
...
I've read about people spending half an hour a week (or less) maintaining
their planted tanks. I simply don't frickin believe it! Either they live
in a perfect world or they're doing an awful lot of daily maintenance
that's not being included in the weekly total.

I spend about 45 minutes a week on the GF tank alone, which does not
include the monthly filter cleanings. Just the basic algae scrub, gravel
vac and water change. The planted tank is probably about half an hour, but
it should be a lot more and it's starting to show. If I ever tear it down
and build a real aquascape, I could see spending two hours a week on it.

Today for instance, I did the algae scrub, extended gravel vac (BGA
outbreak), filter clean and larger than normal water change. This probably
took an hour or so. Then I spent another hour disinfecting the floating
plants in Permanganate and doing the same for the large Pagoda (Loach
hideout). This time doesn't include any plant maintenance, other than
scrubbing off the BGA before the gravel vac. Then tonight I'm walking
past the basement door and hear one of the pumps cavitating. Damn, go to
check it out and notice how dirty the glass canopy has gotten. I can't
believe I didn't notice it earlier, so I grab the scrubber and attempt to
remove the white crap. It wouldn't touch it this time. OK, time for the
vinegar. Half an hour later I had the glass pretending to be clean again.
But the damn pump is cavitating again...

So what's your REAL maintenance schedule and tips.

P.S. This post is somewhat tongue in cheek for the humour challenged.