How to Clean Algae From the Glass of a Fish Tank

Aquariums bring a natural feel to a room.

Aquariums provide a beautiful accent to a room but require continual maintenance to keep the water and aquarium surfaces looking their best. These maintenance practices also preserve the health of the fish, invertebrates and plants stocked in the aquarium. In addition to proper maintenance of filtration systems, the water of the tank should be periodically (every one to two weeks) replaced in 10 to 20 percent increments. Changing the water in greater amounts can induce shock in the aquarium residents. One common bane of aquarists is the accumulation of algae on the inside glass. Although a number of remedies have been marketed, the safest and most effective method is still using a sponge and a little scrubbing.

Things You'll Need

• Handled sponge or cleaning pad
• Rubber scraper
• Aquarium net (optional)

Instructions

1. Open the hood of the aquarium. For small or deep aquariums, removal of the hood may be necessary to reach all areas of the glass.

2. Scrub the surface of the glass using a sponge or gentle cleaning pad to remove any accumulated algae. A handle attached to the cleaning pad enables you to more easily reach the bottom areas of the glass. Do not use a cleaning pad that contains detergents or chemical abrasives. These chemicals can contaminate the water and harm any fish or invertebrates residing in the aquarium. Many aquarium stores carry handled cleaning pads for cleaning aquarium glass but alternatives may be found in the cleaning supply sections of hardware and grocery stores. One alternative to aquarium-specific cleaning sponges is a toilet brush. Remember not to use the toilet brush for purposes other than cleaning the aquarium to prevent contamination of the aquarium water.

3. Use a hard rubber scraper to remove algae buildup that cannot be removed using a sponge. Allow the removed algae to be filtered from the water by the aquarium's filtration center. Heavy deposits of algae may be removed by an aquarium net to prevent the filtration system from becoming clogged.

Tips & Warnings

• Adding primary consumers (grazers) such as snails and algae-eating fish will help control the buildup of algae.

• Do not clean the aquarium with chemical detergents or chemical abrasives. These chemicals can harm the living inhabitants of the aquarium.

• Aquarium algaecides are effective short-term solutions to algae growth but also adversely affect other living plants in the aquarium.

References

• Clean Aquarium Glass Safely
• Cleaning Your Aquarium