Tips for a Clean Aquarium

Keeping your aquarium clean should be a relatively simple job once you establish a routine. Not only does it clean your water and the tank itself, but it also keeps your fish happy and healthy. Generally, youll need to clean your tank and the water once a month. Once you get into your aquarium maintenance routine, youll find it only takes a short amount of time to get it done.

Before starting on your cleaning, always unplug any electrical attachments or accessories on your tank, such as the filter, lights, or heaters you may have. Dont use any soap or detergent to clean your tank. These chemicals are harmful to fish and could easily make them very ill or even result in death. If those chemicals can make tank fish ill, then think about what flushing them down your sink each day does to the natural environment of fish in the wild.

The next step is to either vacuum or scrape your tank. Many aquarium shops say you should vacuum first, but this can often mean lowering the water levels before you begin scraping. When you scrape, you increase the density of algae in the water, so with reduced water levels this can raise the concentration to dangerously high levels, which can make your fish sick.

Vacuuming Your Tank ” An aquarium vacuum is a tube connected to a rubber hose. When you purchase your vacuum at an aquarium store, it will be called a Python. Its job is to drain a little water at the same time as it sucks up algae, dirt, debris, or any waste food in your tank. Remember to clean decorative effects and especially the gravel or tank stones at the bottom.

This task should be done as quickly as you can because your vacuum will siphon up quite a lot of water. Try not to remove any more than 20% of the total amount of water in the tank. If you spend too long vacuuming then you risk lowering your tanks water too far and you could harm your fish.

Scraping Your Tank ” To remove algae or grime from the sides of your tank and from any decorations or your filter, you need to use a sponge with a handle attached. The scrapers sponge should be the non-abrasive type or you risk scratching or damaging acrylic. The sponge is already designed for the removal of algae and grime, so once youve cleaned the tank, remember to clean the decorations and filter as well.

Once youve finished your vacuuming and scraping, begin filling the tank back to normal water levels. Remember not to use tap water in your aquarium. You should use always de-chlorinated water in your tank. When the water is back at a proper level, test the water for ammonia, nitrite and nitrate levels with your aquarium test kit. If you have a salt-water aquarium, then always check the salinity levels to avoid your fish becoming stressed and sick.