If you are thinking about buying a new aquarium or have already purchased one or received one as a gift, you probably realize that you may have to give it a good scrubbing once in a while.
Aquariums can get dirty and need to be maintained.
The more sophisticated your filtration system, the less often you will have to clean it.
Smaller tanks get dirtier faster than larger ones because of the smaller volume of water in them and therefore need to be cleaned more often.
So, are you concerned that your tank is getting a little murky? Don't worry! Big or small, aquariums are easy to care of and clean.
All you have to do is follow a few easy steps.
Read on to find out how you can clean dirty fish tanks! First things first--make sure to wash your hands and clean all tools thoroughly before cleaning the aquarium.
Keep a separate bucket and set of cleaning tools dedicated to the aquarium.
Avoid using these for other purposes as trace amounts of contaminants can be dangerous.
Fish tanks have a delicate ecosystem, so it important to be careful of not adding any germs or toxins to it! Most fish tanks are installed with a filter to keep the water oxygenated and the aquarium's environment clean and healthy.
Make sure to change the filter every few months.
If you follow a regular cleaning schedule, then cleaning your fish tank will be quick and simple.
First, siphon out 30-70% of the water in your tank (depending on how dirty it is).
Next, remove carefully any ornaments and decorations.
Clean these ornaments separately.
Avoid using detergents or soaps as even the smallest trace of these can be lethal to fish.
Most decorations can be cleaned easily with some warm water and a good scrubbing.
If there is significant buildup on your decorations, you can contact your pet store to purchase some specially formulated cleaning agents for aquariums.
Wash all ornaments with fresh water before adding to the aquarium.
If you have gravel in your fish tank, using a gravel vacuum will make it easier to clean any algae/food/fish waste that may have settled.
Alternately, if the gravel is very dirty, you can scoop it out and clean it thoroughly.
Use an algae scraper/pads/wiper to clean the walls of the aquarium.
If using an algae pad, make sure that it is non-toxic.
There are specific algae cleaners formulated for aquariums which will not threaten the fish tank's environment.
Kitchen cleaners may harm your fish.
Once you have cleaned all components, return them to the fish tank starting with the gravel.
To replace the water, add fresh water at the temperature of the aquarium.
It will harm the fish if the water is too hot or too cold.
Return the decorations.
If you notice your aquarium getting too dirty/developing large amounts of algae, you may consider reducing the amount of fish food.
Clean the glass from the outside with a soft cloth and some window cleaner.
That's it! You are all done and your fish have a clean and safe environment! Remember--a clean environment helps your fish stay healthy.
Aquariums can get dirty and need to be maintained.
The more sophisticated your filtration system, the less often you will have to clean it.
Smaller tanks get dirtier faster than larger ones because of the smaller volume of water in them and therefore need to be cleaned more often.
So, are you concerned that your tank is getting a little murky? Don't worry! Big or small, aquariums are easy to care of and clean.
All you have to do is follow a few easy steps.
Read on to find out how you can clean dirty fish tanks! First things first--make sure to wash your hands and clean all tools thoroughly before cleaning the aquarium.
Keep a separate bucket and set of cleaning tools dedicated to the aquarium.
Avoid using these for other purposes as trace amounts of contaminants can be dangerous.
Fish tanks have a delicate ecosystem, so it important to be careful of not adding any germs or toxins to it! Most fish tanks are installed with a filter to keep the water oxygenated and the aquarium's environment clean and healthy.
Make sure to change the filter every few months.
If you follow a regular cleaning schedule, then cleaning your fish tank will be quick and simple.
First, siphon out 30-70% of the water in your tank (depending on how dirty it is).
Next, remove carefully any ornaments and decorations.
Clean these ornaments separately.
Avoid using detergents or soaps as even the smallest trace of these can be lethal to fish.
Most decorations can be cleaned easily with some warm water and a good scrubbing.
If there is significant buildup on your decorations, you can contact your pet store to purchase some specially formulated cleaning agents for aquariums.
Wash all ornaments with fresh water before adding to the aquarium.
If you have gravel in your fish tank, using a gravel vacuum will make it easier to clean any algae/food/fish waste that may have settled.
Alternately, if the gravel is very dirty, you can scoop it out and clean it thoroughly.
Use an algae scraper/pads/wiper to clean the walls of the aquarium.
If using an algae pad, make sure that it is non-toxic.
There are specific algae cleaners formulated for aquariums which will not threaten the fish tank's environment.
Kitchen cleaners may harm your fish.
Once you have cleaned all components, return them to the fish tank starting with the gravel.
To replace the water, add fresh water at the temperature of the aquarium.
It will harm the fish if the water is too hot or too cold.
Return the decorations.
If you notice your aquarium getting too dirty/developing large amounts of algae, you may consider reducing the amount of fish food.
Clean the glass from the outside with a soft cloth and some window cleaner.
That's it! You are all done and your fish have a clean and safe environment! Remember--a clean environment helps your fish stay healthy.
SHARE
