Easiest way to clean a fish tank | Cleaning Guide
To keep the fish in good health, people use the easiest way to clean a fish tank. Various methods are available, and people choose them as per their comfort.
The cleanliness of the fish tank is the solution to most of the health-related issues of fish in it. It removes all the waste factors and keeps your fish healthy and happy. To clean the tank properly, there are available versatile cleaning methods.
Out of all the methods, you must go with the easiest way to clean a fish tank so that you won’t face any difficulty pursuing the process. In terms of an easy approach, gravel vacuum cleaning is the most popular option for it.
- Firstly wash your hands, unplug all the filters and remove the inner decorations for detail cleaning\
- Then, use the gravel vacuum for the substrate services and ensure that the tank has been cleaned from all sides.
- Furtherly, move to the water replacement activity.
Fish Tank Cleaning
Any process you adopt for cleaning the tank will become easier if you follow all the steps appropriately. While using the gravel vacuum, you have to be sure that you are ensuring everything reliably.
To begin the process, you should follow up the cleaning proceeding in the following sequence;
- Preparation
- Water Removal
- Algae Scraping
- Filters Maintenance
- Water Replacing Activity
Preparation
In this cleaning step, you must gather all the necessary things and supplies you will use in the process. these essential things are;
- Siphon gravel vacuum
- Algae scraper
- Towel
- Filter media (optional – if required)
- Large bucket
- ater testing kit
- Water for replacement
- Salinity probe
If you have a large aquarium, then a siphon will additionally be used. It will help you to take out the water from the fish tank easily. While gathering supplies, ensure you have turned off all the electrical connections from the tank.
Not only this but also remove the artificial plants and decorations from the fish tank for easy cleaning.
Water Removal
To remove water, attach the siphon gravel vacuum with a hose and release the water into it. In terms of siphon vacuums, there are various types. However, all of them work on the same principle and provide immediate results.
The vacuum majorly steps up the gravel and efficiently removes the debris without causing any sucking issues. For this, you have to move the vacuum around the tank’s surface thoroughly.
Moreover, if you want to slow down this siphon process, block the tube end with the help of your thumb. It will avoid the falling back of the water along with debris. If we say that the gravel siphon vacuum has a built-in regulator that aids in the control of water flow, it won’t be that wrong.
Algae Scraping
This is the deeper step to follow. You can clean the glass of the tank with the help of a magnetic algae scraper. Moreover, this algae cleaner comprises two magnets on both sides with a soft covering for glass cleaning.
One side of the magnetic scraper cleans the interior side, and the other side cleans the exterior surface. Drag both sides gently with a soft hand so that it can remove all the harsh scars (majorly comprising algae) without causing any harm or scratch to the tank.
These algae scrapers can also be effective for the artificial decorations you have removed from your tank. If not, then for the decorations and artificial plants you might use the old soft-bristled toothbrush.
On the other hand, most people or professionals go for the algae eaters. These organisms will eat up all the algae factors.
Filters Maintenance
Sometimes, changing and maintaining the filters appropriately will prove highly worthy. The cleaning and maintenance of the filter depend on the type of filter you are using in your tank. If you are using the sponge filters, it is better to remove them and rinse them under the tap water. So that it will remove all the clogged material and debris for better work again.
After rinsing the filters, try to place them back in their place as soon as possible. So the tank would not lose the beneficial bacterial colonies.
In addition, if your filter contains an ammonia absorber or the carbon factor, it is better to replace it after every couple of weeks because they are not bound to provide the same efficient performance again and again.
Water Replacement
Once you are done with all the cleaning activities inside and outside the tank, it is the final time to regain the water capacity in the tank.
The water replacement must be as per the tank you are using (saltwater or freshwater aquarium). However, whatever the tank you are using, you must ensure the temperature and salinity condition of the water should match the water you removed from the tank before cleaning.
Otherwise, it might cause severe sudden changes. In this regard, it is better to keep checking the water parameters for the next few hours after cleaning. Along with this, you must be sure that the water you are using must be transparent and does not involve any cloudy aspects in it.
After all this, take a clean cotton towel and thoroughly clean the aquarium’s exterior. The towel will absorb all the water droplets from the tank surface and remove the other dust and water scars.
The Final Statement
Overall, keeping your tank clean or passing it through a thorough cleaning activity is relatively easy to consider. You must maintain it in an appropriate way so that you won’t feel significant problematic aspects in the future tank handling activity.
Thus, to help you in this regard, we provide one of the easiest ways to clean a fish tank. We elaborated gravel siphon vacuum cleaning in a comprehensive step-by-step guide.
We hope you have found it worthy as per your preference.
