Maintenance for shrimp only tanks?

[jacksdad]

Hi, just been looking over a few posts, it seems that many people (not all on here!) clean the tank substrate, in shrimp only tanks.
I do occasionally clean the fish tank substrate with a syphon tube, and even then there's not a huge amount of muck removed, I do see the bottom feeders soon invade the spot I've cleaned, and spend a while rummaging around for scraps
Now, the Shrimp Tank! I've never hoovered the substrate at all, my understanding is that the shrimp actually need the biofilm that builds up, to feed on. When I feed them the food is gone in minutes, plant leaves last at best 24 hours, and they are breeding very well, and I've lost just 2 adults in 7 months, now have over 100 from the first 10, currently about 10 berried mums
When I do a 10% water change, once a week or so, I stir up a 5cm patch of the substrate, quite a lot of detritus appears, but the shrimp pounce on this patch, and spend a while feeding.
So, the question is, should I be cleaning the substrate a little more? I'm happy as things are, same as the shrimp, but I don't want to be building up any nasty toxins etc. that may break out!

[plankton]

Have you got sand or gravel?
Sand doesn't need much looking after anyway, just removal of anything loose on top.
Gravel may need a deep clean every few months, but only a quarter at a time, not all of it......
I don't see why shrimp should be any different as that would allow all areas to have biofilm......

[jacksdad]

Its Unipac Limpopo fine gravel. I did notice a fair bit of muck when I stirred up the small patch yesterday, so I think I'll start hoovering small areas every 2 weeks, that way I won't disturb thengs too much.
And today I've found a dead shrimp only the third one I've ever found though, I did a bit of extra work yesterday, changed about 20% of water in total, washed one sponge filter (I do the pair alternatively every month) and trimmed the plants, maybe thats why?

[plankton]

They don't like a lot of change, do they.....maybe 20% was a bit much for him/her.
You do have a few now though.

[jacksdad]

I agree, I always do 10% every 2 weeks or so, but I did this, then took more water out to clean the sponge as I'd thrown the old water. Despite the usual advice, I've washed one sponge filter at a time, in tap water, as they are filthy, then give it a final rinse in tank water with a drop of Stability added. This has worked well so far, going from 10 to over 100 shrimp in 7 months and lots more on the way