Things You'll Need:
- Paper towel
- Siphon
- Tank wall scrubber
- Dechlorinator or water conditioner
- Bucket
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Step 1
Unplug all of the equipment in the tank. This will likely include the lights, filter and heater.
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Step 2
Take the external filter off of the edge of the tank if you have one, and empty it into a sink. Clean out the inside of the bowl area with a paper towel. Rinse out the filter pad to remove any thing blocking the flow.
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Step 3
Take the tubes of the filter apart, they should pull apart naturally into a few sections. Clean the debris out of these sections. Put the filter back together.
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Step 4
Scrub down any algae that has collected on the walls with the wall scrubber. This will allow you to see your fish better.
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Step 5
Submerge the entire siphon in the tank until all of the air bubbles have escaped from it. Then, grab the smaller end, and place your thumb over the opening. Pull that end out of the water, keeping your thumb over it. Pull that end down into the bucket and remove your thumb. Water should now flow from the tank into the bucket.
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Step 6
Use the big end of the siphon, the one in the tank, to scoop up left over bits of food and waste that are at the bottom of the tank. You may have to churn up the gravel a bit, as well as move some of the tank ornaments to accomplish this. Try not to drain more than 1/5th of the total amount in the tank. Pull up the big end of the siphon when you are done, to stop the water flowing. Dump out the water and refill the bucket. Put a drop of declorinator or water conditioner in there to make the water safe, and let it sit for at least a few hours before putting it back in the tank.
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Step 7
Hook everything back up and plug it back in, and your tank should now be cleaner, easier for you to watch and safer for the fish.
