When One Owns Plants...

[Flotsam&1Jetsom]

... Can one still vacuum the gravel?

I have recently added some flame moss from Aquaessetinals Online (highly recommended!!... the Store I mean) and I have added it so it can carpet the floor.

When it has finally achieved said carpeting should I still hoover it or will this kill me mosses?

Might be a bit of a silly question but there we go.

[Diana]

Optimum media for most plants is not gravel, but finer products like Eco complete or any of several other plant specific materials. None of these would get a deep vacuum.

Plant roots will bring oxygen into the media, and the decomposing materials become plant fertilizers without toxic side effects.

Moss does not grow deep roots. It will cling to the pebbles, but this will take a long time, and the gravel should not be disturbed or else you will stop the moss from attaching.