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Chalfie
ChasnotRobert
40l sounds quite small. It's harder to keep a small tank healthy.
If everything is working as it should, the gravel shouldn't be getting mucky that much.
Plants help. The filter needs to develop a bacterial colony to work properly, then it should be ok and just need rinsing out once a week or so.
Change water once a week. 20% should be enough. If you change too much water it can be a shock and also tap water treatments can adversely affect the good bacteria in your filter.
Start with just a couple of fish in a tank that size.