Water change question

[Lunareclipse]

When you do a water change, do you siphon out the gravel too? It looks better after I siphon it, but am I causing a mini cycle?

 

[ZANYMASTER]

Stir it up a bit and get the junk out but don't siphon the sand unless you're really using gravel.You meant sand or crushed coral right?

 

[TripleT]

When you do a water change, do you siphon out the gravel too? It looks better after I siphon it, but am I causing a mini cycle?

A coarse substrate can be a trap for detritus, and cause recurring problems.

What exactly have you got in there, and how deep is it?

Got pics?

 

[Lunareclipse]

I have aragonite and crushed shells. I don't have a pic.

 

[Josh]

Use a turkey baster to get all of the detritus up into the water column, then do you water change and take water from the top portion of the tank. If you do regular water changes you will take out enough of that stuff to keep it in check. There are obviously areas you cannot reach but just do your best to get the water pretty cloudy before doing the water change.

Also your filter feeders will thank you!