Proper Cleaning of a Fish Tank

Editor: firemountain

Regular cleaning of your fish tank is necessary to maintain proper balance, health and a clear atmosphere for your aquatic friends.

You have enjoyed your fish tank for about a month now. The fish look healthy and now it's time to clean the tank. To keep your fish happy and healthy, regular tank maintenance is very important. You will be happy to learn that you don't need to remove the fish, empty all the water and change the gravel. To do this can be very unsafe for your fish. If you remove the fish from their environment it will add stress to the fish that they don't need. If you remove all of the water and add all-new water, the fish will have to adjust to a whole new environment again, causing unneeded stress. To remove the gravel and replace it with new, the bacteria colony that enables waste to be converted into safe bacteria will be destroyed. About every three or four weeks, depending on your tank size and the amount of fish you have, you should perform a twenty-five percent water change. If your tank is overcrowded you should do this every other week.

Here is a list of equipment you will need, all of which can be found at your local pet store:

1. 1- 5 gallon bucket
2. A gravel siphon. (This is a piece of tubing which has a cylindrical end used to vacuum the gravel. Make sure you get one large enough to handle your tank size.)
3. Bacteria starter (Also found at your pet store; I use a product called "Prime").
4. Water conditioner.(Make sure you get something that acts as a dechlorinator. I use a product called "Prime")
5. Algae pad (Make sure you know whether your tank is made from glass or acrylic. If you use the wrong algae pad you could scratch your tank.)

Now you are ready to start. The first thing you need to do is figure out how much water to remove. Remember, you will do a twenty-five percent water change. The easy way to do this is measure the height of your tank, divide by four, then measure down from the top one forth of the height and mark the location.

To clean the gravel and remove the water you will use the gravel siphon. The gravel siphon works on the basis of gravity; just follow the instructions included with the gravel siphon. You will need an empty bucket to dispose of the old water and debris from the tank.

Observe the mark you put on your tank and don't allow the water level to drop below that point. After you have removed the correct amount of water, you need to replace it with fresh water. Rinse out your bucket and fill it with fresh water which is as close to the same temperature as the water in your tank. In the new water, add the water conditioner and bacteria starter. It is important to follow the directions on the back of the bottles for this step. It is not necessary to leave the water to sit overnight if you have a tank with a filtration system and add the water conditioner. Once you have added the chemicals you are now ready to add the new water. Make sure you add the water very slowly. The heater in the tank needs time to adjust to the right temperature and it cannot do this if you add all the water by the bucketful. You need to put as much water in as you took out, so if you took out ten gallons you need to add ten gallons.

Once you have added the water, everything should be back to normal. Be sure to check your filter and change it if necessary.

The last step is to scrub the tank with the algae pad. This will remove any algae that has started to grow.

You may notice that your water is cloudy. Don’t worry, this is called a "bacteria blossom" and is not only very normal, but necessary, and will clear up in a couple of days! If it should not clear up, have your tank water tested. Most pet stores will do this free of charge and it can help prevent problems before they start.

Categories: Do-It-Yourself | Recreation | Pets | Fish and Aquaria | Hobbies