How to Clean a Saltwater Aquarium

Cleaning saltwater tanks is different from cleaning freshwater, due to a saltwater ecosystem's delicate balance. Correct temperature, food and fertilizer supply and chemical balance are all key factors in keeping tanks healthy. Buy filtered water or a reverse osmosis kit. Otherwise use regular water and chemicals to remove chlorine. Follow these steps to maintain a saltwater aquarium.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Aquarium scraper
• Phosphate drops
• Hermit crabs
• Snails
• Nonchlorinated saltwater
• Siphon
• Gravel cleaning tools
• Lighting timer

1. Check your filter weekly and clean it manually if dirty. Make sure you purchase high quality filters.

2. Clean your aquarium's glass weekly with a scraper to remove algae. You also can remove algae using phosphate drops. Consider buying hermit crabs and snails, which keep your tank clean of algae.

3. Keep your water clean by changing 10 to 35 percent of it once a month with new, nonchlorinated saltwater.

4. Siphon or stir the gravel at the aquarium's bottom. Move larger rocks and clean underneath them. Be sure to use cleaning tools safe for an acrylic tank, if that's what you have.

5. Purchase a timer for your tank's lighting system. More than six hours of daily light fosters excessive algae growth. It's also important to light your tank at the same times each day.

Tips & Warnings

• Don't clean your tank more than twice a month; otherwise you kill all the beneficial bacteria, which help maintain a healthy aquarium.