Ok, probably a stupid question about water changes, but here goes.... How often, if ever, does a water change involve vacuuming the substrate? Or is a water change purely that - a change of the water only?
Reason I ask is this: I had a salt FO aquarium for several years successfully. Then I moved and I became "The Fish Killer." After a couple years of being out of the game I've jumped back in and am trying to understand my fish killing pitfalls. I used to always vacuum the substrate during a water change, and I'm wondering if I vacuumed out all of the good little critters living in the sand in an attempt to make my water "clean." And as a result, did more harm than good. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!
Reason I ask is this: I had a salt FO aquarium for several years successfully. Then I moved and I became "The Fish Killer." After a couple years of being out of the game I've jumped back in and am trying to understand my fish killing pitfalls. I used to always vacuum the substrate during a water change, and I'm wondering if I vacuumed out all of the good little critters living in the sand in an attempt to make my water "clean." And as a result, did more harm than good. Any help is much appreciated! Thanks!