How To Make Cleaning Aquarium as Easy as ABC

The better care you provide for your aquarium, the healthier your fish will be. Cleaning your aquarium regularly not only keeps it looking nice but also makes it easier to care for in the future. Once you get into the habit of doing this, it is a relatively simple task and should not take very long.

You don’t need to remove everything from the tank. Beneficial bacteria that are a part of the biological filter grow on every surface of the tank; removing them will reduce the efficiency of the filter.

Steps to Take when Cleaning your Aquarium

…including plants and accessories:

• Switch off the light and filter.
• Clean the condensation tray with a damp sponge to allow light to reach the plants.
• Clean the filter casing thoroughly.
• Remove the filter medium (cartridge, sponges, carbon packets, etc.) and use water from your tank to wash out any dirt. Replace the filter medium if necessary but do not do this all at once, as the tank will have to go through a cycling process all over again to get the bacteria established.
• If you keep plants in your aquarium, remove any dead foliage and prune the plants with scissors. Some of these cuttings can be replanted.
• Remove algae with an algae scraper or scrubber, leaving some at the back of the tank for your fish to feed on.

Step by Step on Changing the Water

1. Condition fresh tap water for refilling your tank. Its temperature should be close to that of the tank water you are removing (you can gauge the temperature by feeling the water with your hands). Use a chlorine or chloramine remover to de-chlorinate the water.
2. Replace either 10 to 15 per cent of the water each week, or about 20 per cent of the water every three to four weeks. Siphon this water into a clean bucket (it’s best to get one specifically for aquarium chores).
3. Use the siphon to suck up debris that collects in the gravel or decorative ornaments. If you are using an underwater gravel to prevent decaying organic matter from blocking the passages between the pebbles and restricting water flow. Generally, you can clean about 25 to 30 per cent of the gravel while siphoning out 10 to 15 per cent of the water.
4. Pour the fresh water over a plate to avoid turbulence disturbing your fishes. Alternatively, place the bucket somewhere higher than the top of the tank and get your siphon going again. Water the siphon, in case it gets bumped out of the tank or there is enough water in the bucket to overfill the tank.
5. Always leave some space between the top of the water level and the aquarium cover as this will facilitate the process of oxygen exchange at the water surface, which your fish rely on to breathe.
6. Do not “top-off” the tank to replace water lost through evaporation as this water loss leaves impurities behind. The accumulation of these impurities, and trace amounts of metals and other toxic substances will, make the water harder and unhealthy for the fish. The build-up of waste products is also potentially hazardous to the fish and encourages algae growth.

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