How to Clean a Fish Tank

Fish tanks add a very different look to your home. They come in various shapes and sizes and look good in any corner you put them in. Fish also make very lovable pets with different colors and very easy to manage. You can have an interesting collection of fish right from discus to clownfish which can make a great combination for your fish tanks. No matter what fish you have, you need to take care of them as they are quite a big responsibility as delicate pets. If you've just bought a fish tank and are not aware of how to clean a fish tank, take a look at some of the following tips to do so.

How Do you Clean a Fish Tank

Cleaning a fish tank can be an easy job, provided you do it right. Given below are some of the few steps to clean fish tanks with and without fish in it.

Cleaning a Tropical Fish Tank
When you see a murky looking fish tank with freshwater fish in it, it's time to clean the tank. Maintaining a freshwater tank is comparatively easy to clean with the right kind of tools. Read on for some effortless tips on how to clean a fish tank in the following paragraphs.

Step 1: The first step to cleaning a fish tank is to turn off the filter, heater and every other electrical accessory present in the tank. Make sure all the electrical cords and plugs are turned off.

Step 2: Take a large bucket and your fish tank gravel vacuum to place the bucket below the tank. Now insert the hose into the bucket and tape it to the side to make sure it doesn't pop out of the bucket and spill the tank water everywhere.

Step 3: Insert the vacuum inside the fish tank and pump it up and down till you see the water flowing into the bucket. Remove about 20% of the tank water in this manner and then vacuum the gravel and other decorations.

Step 4: Rinse the filter cartridge and replace it once in a month and while rinsing it do it with tank water and not tap water. Make sure you kill only the bad bacteria and not the good while rinsing the filter.

Step 5: Use an algae scrubber to remove the unwanted algae in fish tank sides and decorations and refill it with lukewarm tap water till the brim. Add the dechlorinator to the tank water.

Step 6: Turn on the heater and filter and other electrical appliances and check back in an hour to make sure it's running properly. You don't need to remove the fish out of the tank to clean a tropical fish tank. This is how to clean a fish tank with fish in it.

Cleaning a Fish Tank Without Fish
If you are wondering how to clean a fish tank without killing the fish, you need to be very careful while removing them during cleaning. Take a look at the following steps for how to clean a fish tank easily.

Step 1: As mentioned before, unplugging all the electrical appliances like the aeration, filter, lights, etc. is the basic tip for how to clean an aquarium, before you start cleaning the fish tank. Remove the hood and clean it with paper towels and water.

Step 2: Remove about 20% to 30% of tank water with a hose or a cup in another bucket or vessel. Gently transfer the fish with a net in this water, so that they are in their usual habitat. Do not put them in fresh water as they take time to adapt to a different temperature and habitat of water.

Step 3: Scrub the inside of the tank with a scraper to remove the unwanted algae from the tank walls and the bottom. Also remove all the rocks or gravel inside the tank and wash them or vacuum them with a pump and fresh water. Let them dry well in the sun or heat.

Step 4: Remove the soiled filter and discard the garbage from the bag, rinse off the filter with tank water. Add fresh water in the tank and add a few drops of the dechlorinator.

Step 5: Add the fresh dried gravel and rocks back into the tank and switch on the electrical appliances to set the surrounding of the water as it was earlier.

Step 6: Add the fish back in the tank and don't discard the older tank water, pour it in with the fish. These are important tips on how to clean an aquarium. Your fish tank looks as good as new.

These simple steps on how to clean a fish tank can definitely help you to keep your fish pets happy and healthy.