Does anyone have advice on cleaning the gravel in a heavily planted tank?

Half of the floor is covered with a dense growth Crypts, and the remainder
is dense with Bacopa and Cabomba.

I'm currently using a Python gravel vac, but the large diameter tube doesn't
get down to the substrate. I've tried smaller vacuum tubes, but they suck
up the gravel.

I've considered using a pump and tube as a "blower" to stir up the gravel
and let the canister grab the particles. Jas anyone had success with this
approach?

Any advice is appreciated.

Thanks,
Larz