How to Clean an Aquarium

Your fish - and you - will feel better when they've got a cleaner tank to swim in.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Razor blades

1. Take time every week to clear the filter strainers of any plant debris or other waste, and wipe away any algae from the inside walls of the tank with an algae scraper or scrubber pad.

2. Make a date every two weeks to clean your filter. Consult manufacturer's instructions or an aquarium-supply retailer for advice on your specific model.

3. Clear the filter impellers of any slime, algae or plant waste, and replace any activated carbon bags in your filter.

4. Clean the underside of your aquarium's canopy or hood with an algae scraper or scrubber pad.

Tips & Warnings

• You may need to use a razor blade to remove tough algae from glass hoods or canopies, but don't use razor blades on acrylic surfaces - they may cause scratches.
• Avoid using soaps to clean aquarium components, since such chemicals are toxic to fish. If you must use a glass cleaner, use an ammonia-free cleaner on the exterior walls only.

[lovefish]

on 5/26/2009 i really need someone to tell me how to get the black algae off the glass and the plants. that stuff is really hard to clean.thank you

[rocko69rpm]

on 8/20/2008 javagirl88
To give the gravel a good cleaning you could try scoooping it out by the cup full. Remove all the way to the bottom on one side of the tank. Wash the gravel in a strainer under warm water then rinse in cold. You can let it dry out some or just return it to the tank with your cup. Wait a week then do the other side.

Mike

[javagirl88]

on 8/8/2008 I wish someone would provide detailed instructions on how to properly clean the gravel... I have a 29 Gal. tank with live plants, two Otocinclus (algea eaters), three male Mollies and four pregnant female Mollies (all of various types), along with three fancy male Guppies. Should you remove the fish before cleaning gravel? Wouldn't that stress out my about-to-burst pregnant females? Is it a rule of thumb to only clean till 25% of the water is changed a day? Help! Thanks.

on 7/10/2006 The general rule of thumb when it comes to how many fish you can keep in a tank is:
For Tropical Fish: 1 gallon of water per 1 inch of fully grown tropical fish. Research before you buy your fish to find how how big they will grow, and plan ahead accordingly.

For Goldfish: Generally every person you talk to will give you a different answer. I fully believe that an absolute minimum of 10 gallons per goldfish is essential. These fish can grow to 6 inches or more and need a lot of room to allow them to grow. Also, they produce so much waste that having more than 1 goldfish per 10 gallons raises the ammonia levels too quickly and can have devastating consequences.

on 3/26/2006 I can get lazy with my aquarium. I let it go far too long. Every time I buy new fish they die. I have decided only to have neon tetras because they are cheap and can handle my mismanagement. My tip, don't get fish unless you are a diligent person. I did clean my aquarium today for the first time in 4 years and I hate that big Algae eater fish (he scares me). Then, I throw them right back in after the cleaning and pray the will survive the changing environment, I hate doing all that. But I do feel sorry for them quite often. People like me should not have fish! I tell myself that every ten years and then I go get some more, kinda like my drum set that I get bored with, then years later I want another set.