Tips on keeping the fish tank clean
Cleaning a fish tank is not really the cumbersome task that it is made out to be; as a matter of fact, the process can be quite straight forward if done right and will not take more than 30 minutes to 60 minutes of your time. It is imperative to understand that neglecting to maintain the tank can negatively impact its inhabitants and may even result in losses.
Do not get the decorations out to clean the tank
Getting the decorations out will just create more work and a huge mess, so let the decorative plants etc stay in. Also, it is vital to understand that all surfaces inside the tank harbor beneficial bacterial cultures and taking them out will unduly stress the microorganisms or even kill them.
Do not take out all the fish
Once again, make things easy for yourself and do not take all the fish out for regular tank cleaning (10% to 15% water change). This can stress your pets and can even lead to injuries.
Step by step approach to cleaning the fish tank
Just remove 10 to 15% of the water in the tank; this will be enough to lower the amount of waste in the water.
Use fresh dechlorinated water to replace the 10% to 15% water removed from the tank.
Water should be changed every week in case of mid and large sized tanks and more frequently if you have a bowl or small vase.
Use the siphon to scoop out the debris and dirt trapped in between the gravels.
Dealing with algae
If algae growth is seen on the surface of the tank or the decorative items in it, use an algae scrubber to get rid of it. If the problem is not too big, you can get a catfish to do the job for you. However, the 10% to 15% water change is still important. Also, remember that adding a catfish or any other algae eater will increase the amount of biological waste in the aquarium.
Tending to a dirty filter
A very important step in tank hygiene maintenance is cleaning the filter; you do not have to change the cartridges, carbon and sponge all at once because this will remove the bacterial culture as well. Instead replace the media one at a time (every week). When adding new filter media, hold it under cool, running water before introducing it into the tank.
Changing the water in the tank
When doing the 10% to 15% change, use a siphon to make the task of replacing the water simpler. Simply siphon the water from a bucket to avoid spillage. Make sure that the bucket you use has never been used for holding detergents of cleaning chemicals.
The temperature of the water to should be the same as the water in the tank. Use a dechlorinator to get rid of chlorine and place the bucket at a level that is higher than the fish tank. Now, simply start the siphon and it will take care of the job for you.
Remember that topping of the tank will not help to clear the waste and toxins from the aquarium. The reduction in the level of water can be attributed to evaporation; this means that all the impurities in the evaporated water are left behind and topping off such a tank will just make the water harder. The only way to keep your fish healthy in a clean aquarium is to diligently change 10% to `15% of the water every week. Apply rewrite
