Keep Your Fish Tank Sparkling Clean

Many people think that once they're done setting up their aquarium all the work is done. Just feed the fish twice a day and you're done, right? Wrong! To keep your aquarium healthy as well as looking great, you have to be prepared to clean it often. This may take a little work, but you'll be thankful you did it and so will your fish.

Many sites online will give you information on how to clean your tank by taking out all the fish, emptying all the water, washing the gravel, etc. This should only be done in case of a severely dirty tank because it is bad for your fish and could make them more susceptible to illness or death. The water in your tank is filled with beneficial bacteria to keep your fish healthy. An aquarium water change should be done once every week or two. You should only change about 10 to 20 percent of the water. People will tell you different amounts of time to wait and water percentages to use, but it really depends on your specific tank environment. The more populated your tank, the more often you will have to change the water. Also, newer tanks require more frequent water changes than mature tanks. Never do more than a 50% water change unless absolutely necessary. This will keep the helpful bacteria alive and well in your tank. If you forget to do a water change too long, simply do two water changes more frequently than you normally would instead of doing a larger water change.

Another rule is to only use cleaning products bought at pet stores. Other cleaning products can leave harmful residues that can kill your fish. This also applies to tools like sponges; they can contain chemicals as well. If you have to use a product that isn't from a pet store, like a bucket, make sure it has been rinsed thoroughly before you use it. When you do use a cleaning product, remember to rinse, rinse, and rinse some more.

Before you do your water change, unplug everything in your aquarium and let it cool for a little bit. To perform your water change, you want to use a gravel vacuum or a python (a python will make the work go much faster, and you don't have to use buckets). The stuff you want to clean out of the tank is at the bottom, in the gravel. Don't vacuum the water from the top of the tank, suck it from the bottom being sure to clean all the gravel properly. If you are using the appropriate tool, you can vacuum the gravel without sucking any of it up. After you have removed some of the water, clean the glass in your aquarium. You can do this with a scrubbing pad or cloth (just be sure to use chemical free products). This way, you can suck the algae off the walls when you finish vacuuming without getting water all over when you scrub. If you need to, remove decorations and scrub them as well, but only clean one each time you change the water (unless they really need it). This way you will disrupt the tank environment less.

If you are not using a python, your water will have to be siphoned into a bucket. Don't dump out this bucket just yet. Use it to wash your filter. Also, be sure to change your filter media every three to four weeks to keeping it working and cleaning properly. If your filter has more than one type of media, only replace one at a time so some of the good bacteria remain in the filter. After you've done this, you can then treat and replace your water. Just be sure to check the temperature of the water to see that it is as close as you can make it to the temperature of the tank, this way the fish won't be shocked by a sudden temperature change.

Just remember to do this often and you will have a clean healthy tank for your fish.