How Often To Clean A Fish Tank?

With your fish swimming around in their fish tank all day, you want to make sure that they are able to swim in an environment that is clean and comfortable.

We all know we need to clean our tank, but do we know how often?

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How Often Should You Clean Your Fish Tank?

There is no set rule when it comes to cleaning your fish tank, however it is important to make sure that you are taking regular care of its cleanliness to prevent any build up.

What is most important is that your fish a safe and healthy so it is necessary to keep your tank constantly clean.

By doing a little for your fish tank every day, you are prolonging your fish’s life by killing away bacteria and germs.

Fish only have a single tank to swim in so it is your responsibility as owner to prioritize hygiene.

How To Clean A Fish Tank

Once you know how it’s done, cleaning a fish tank is a simple procedure.

What you first need to do is unplug your filter and heater before removing any accessories/ornaments you may have inside the tank (fake fish houses, artificial plants, etc.).
Once this is done, use a suction to remove some water from the fish tank (only around 25% of the contents).
Clean the inside of the fish tank using a cloth, gently rubbing to get rid of any dirt and grime. Then go ahead and clean the accessories you have already removed as this contains just as much bacteria.
Rinse your filter with cold water before placing the ornaments and accessories back into the tank.
You then need to refill your tank with the rest of the water. Do this by filling up a bucket with water, using a thermometer until it is at the right temperature and adding the necessary products for your tank.
Refill your tank with the water.

Tools For Cleaning a Fish Tank

There is plenty of things needed to be done when cleaning a fish tank, and with this comes plenty of needed equipment.

As long as you have these tools, the cleaning process will be smooth sailing.

You will need:

Fish Net – The fish net is used to scoop your fish and remove them from the tank. Transfer your fish into a bucket filled with the appropriate water. This is only necessary for a deep clean; generally you can clean your tank without having to remove any fish.

Algae Scraper – It is typical to find algae in your fish tank – the water mixed with your living room light is enough to make the plant thrive. Sometimes, however, the algae can build up too much and in this case it is necessary to remove the plant using an algae scraper. This tool is easy to use and efficient.

Buckets – Buckets are very important to the cleaning process – you will be lost without them! You will need a total of two buckets, one for the dirty water and one for the clean. This helps the cleaning process run smoothly and keeps the area organized.

Filter Brush – Filter brushes are the best thing for they are useful and leave your filter pristine. You can purchase these brushes from anywhere and they are guaranteed to be worth it.

Preventing Infection After Fish Death

Although this is a morbid topic, it is a topic which everyone should know about.

It is common for at least one of your fish to eventually pass and if this happens then you should know how to respond.

The hope is that this death would be from natural causes, however this could have been caused by an infection.

It is important to act quickly in this situation to protect your other fish.

The first rule of thumb is to remove the fish before it begins to release any toxic chemicals during its decomposition.

You then need to work out what caused the fish’s passing. Do this by testing the water as bad water quality is one of the leading reasons.

If the results come back as showing high levels of nitrate, change part of the water out to purify and improve its quality.

Fish deaths are very common which is one reason why owners should look after their fish tank.

It is not only important to clean the tank but to always check the water levels to ensure a safe enough quality for your fish to swim in.

Removing Your Fish

Although some people choose the option of removing fish, it is not a needed step when it comes to cleaning your fish tank.

This is because you are only partially removing the water from the tank leaving you enough room to clean around them.

It is best not to remove your fish, not only because it can be tricky to catch them but because you will be causing your fish unnecessary stress.

As well as this there is an added risk of accidentally hurting your fish whilst removing them.

But don’t worry.

Your fish will be perfectly comfortable swimming around whilst you clean.

As long as you are not disrupting them, everything will be fine.

However, if you are someone who prefers to remove their fish then make sure you do so carefully and gently – you don’t want to hurt your fish.

Take a fish net and slowly scoop out the fish along with the water before releasing it into a bucket of appropriate climatized water.

Once done, release them back into the tank slowly after you have changed and refilled the tank with water.

Final Thoughts

Cleaning a fish tank is a simple task once you have the right equipment however there is no right or wrong when it comes to how often you should clean your tank.

This can be every day or every other day, but what is most important is that you are cleaning regularly.

By always monitoring your tank’s cleanliness, your fish will be sure to stay safe and healthy.