MS> it's relatively clean now but i was wondering what to 
 MS> do if i need to rinse
 MS> the gravel to get waste particles out of it.
Nope.  You don't ever want to rinse the gravel out.  In that gravel are the 
friendly little micro-organisms that break down the waste.
 MS> i have a gravel vacuum but it seems to cause stress to the fish 
 MS> and doesn't get the particles very well anyway.
Add some Stress Coat after you vacuum.  That will help the fish out.  Also, 
check to see if it's fish waste that's not getting picked up or extra food.  
Most often, the problem is that overfeeding builds up on the bottom.
 MS> have a water filter and a gravel grate under the 
 MS> gravel; is this sufficient?
That should be fine.
 MS> also, is it good to reuse the same water from the tank 
 MS> if i need to clean the gravel, or should i add all new 
 MS> water? 
As I said, don't clean the gravel, and don't change more than 1/3 of the 
water at any one time.
 MS> i have had this tank for only about 9 months (it's my 
 MS> first REAL fish tank)
Good luck!  And let us know how it's running.
Robby
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