r/nanotank Dec 12 '24

Recommendations for keeping tank cleaner Help

Hi all. Have a 6 gallon Fluval Edge. Gravel substrate, a large rock, a large branch, one fist sized Anubis, a scattering of java moss, and something else that is skinny and tall with tiny oval leaves that is probably 10-15 stalks. The tank has 2 guppies, 7 ember tetras, 1 nerite snail and a whole colony of cherry shrimp. I know the tank is overstocked, but what could I do to help keep the substrate cleaner other than vacuuming? It doesn't seem like the gravel gets moved around at all and it accumulates a ton of junk. I saw somewhere it said trumpet snails will get into the gravel, but worry about their population exploding and not leaving enough biofilm for the shrimp

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u/anna_or_elsa Dec 12 '24

On my Fluval Flex 15, I use a turkey baster to squirt water around the tank a bit to get stuff up into the water, and I use a 2" net to catch what I can. The supplements are every 2 weeks vacuuming.

On other (larger) tanks I've run a DIY polishing filter during water changes and I'm thinking about getting a Sicce Shark Nano Pro 250 to serve that purpose with my Flex 15.