To clean substrate - or not?

[RaymondL]

My substrate bed in my 15 gallon is about 1 inch and a 1/4 or so....I don't believe this classifies as a DEEP sand bed. I've heard that disturbing the substrate can cause a disruption on the biological equilibrium of the tank - is this true, and given the depth of my substrate is there any concern for me to vacuum clean it?

I do have snails in the tank but they don't do that great a job at churning the sand bed - ie. Nassarius

 

[Doctorgori]

1.25 is too shallow IME for the noxious gases to develop much…..Id Get a small conch species ….

 

[kevgib67]

My nassarius snails, conch and diamond watchman goby keep it turned over and clean. I’ve never had to clean it.

 

[Lavey29]

I don't clean mine due to overstocked corals but I do turkey baste it once a week.