How To Clean A Fish Tank In 11 Easy Steps – DodoWell

As a new Pisces parent, you love hanging out with your BFF all day and watching him swim around his new home. But to make sure he’s really happy (and healthy), it’s super important that you keep it clean and tidy.

But if you’re not quite sure how to clean an aquarium, you’ve come to the right place.

According to Jackie Marvel, veterinary assistant at DodoVet, there are 11 essential steps. And we’re here to walk you through them all.

How to clean an aquarium step by step

Here are 11 steps to cleaning your aquarium.

1. Don’t move your fish

You might think you need to take your fish out of its tank before cleaning it, but according to Marvel, that’s not necessarily the best idea.

“You want to clean your fish tank with as little stress as possible,” Marvel said. “Handling or moving your fish can be a major source of stress, so leaving them in the tank during the cleaning is fine as not all of the water will be removed.”

2. Wash your hands

Before you really start the actual cleansing, prepare by washing from your hands and forearms to your elbows. This is to get rid of any type of lotion, fragrance or soap on your skin as these things can harm your fish.

3. Separate filters, lights and heaters

“Be sure to do this before water is removed from the tank,” Marvel said. “If [the] When the water level goes down you don’t want the filter to run dry or the heater to be exposed to the air.”

4. Clean the inner glass

This is where your algae pad or scraper comes into play. Use it along the inside of your fish tank to prevent algae from taking over.

(Make sure you’re getting the right one for your aquarium – always check if the pad or scraper is suitable for glass or acrylic aquariums before you buy.)

Get this acrylic tank algae pad from Chewy for $4

Or this glass tank algae pad from Chewy for $5

Or try Chewy’s $9 acrylic tank algae scraper

Or this $9 glass tank algae scraper from Chewy

5. Remove decorations

Take out any plants, rocks, or other decorations, making sure you get all the debris underneath. You can also use a toothbrush to remove any algae that may be on it.

6. Break out the gravel siphon

Now it’s time to rid the gravel in your fish tank of debris and algae build-up, with a little help from your gravel siphon.

Marvel recommends decanting old water into a bucket that you only use to clean your aquarium. You should continue until the water level in your aquarium has dropped by 20 to 25 percent.

7. Remove and rinse your filter media

For this step you should rinse your filter media in the bucket with your old aquarium water.

“If you wash it with any other water, you run the risk of removing beneficial bacteria,” Marvel said.

8. Steer clear of soap

Avoid the urge to scrub down your BFF’s tank with soap and water because those bubbles are bad for fish. And any soap particles left in its tank can also be harmful.

9. Replace the removed water

But don’t just dump old water in the tank, it can be dangerous. You should test the temperature and quality first.

“Make sure the water is the same temperature before putting it back in the tank,” Marvel said. “Most bottled ‘spring’ or well water contains water that is safe for fish, but it’s always best to test your water before starting a new aquarium.”

10. Add some dechlorinator

This ensures that the water is safe for your fish.

“Chlorine is toxic to all fish and causes severe gill damage leading to death,” Marvel said.

11. Do not clean the filter yet

It’s actually better not to clean the tank and filter at the same time.

“Wait two weeks to clean the filter,” Marvel said. “[It] contains some beneficial bacteria to replace what was lost when cleaning the tank.”

Why you need to clean your aquarium

The water quality in your fish’s tank is critical to their health and happiness, and this is where cleaning their tank comes into play.

“Even if the water looks clean, it could be harmful to your fish,” Marvel told The Dodo. “If the tank is not maintained, harmful ammonia will build up in the tank, causing serious damage to the fish.”

How often should you clean your aquarium?

There is no universal schedule for cleaning an aquarium as this depends on many factors such as: B. how many fish you have, how big your tank is, what kind of plants you have in it and what kind of tank it is.

But there are some things any fish parent can do on a regular basis for a little maintenance and care.

“There are daily, weekly, and monthly steps you can take to make cleaning less intense and safe for your fish,” Marvel said.

Daily things you can do for your aquarium

According to Marvel, these are things you can do every day to ensure your fish has the best possible home:

Weekly things to do for your aquarium

These are some things you can do once a week for aquarium maintenance:

Monthly things to do for your aquarium

Here are some things you should do once a month to keep your aquarium in good condition:

If you have a saltwater aquarium, you probably need to take a little more care with cleaning.

“They require more advanced water testing [and] more frequent cleaning, including the lid of the tank, which can accumulate salt deposits,” Marvel said.

What you need to keep an aquarium clean

You will need some supplies to keep your fish’s aquarium nice and clean. Here are the necessities, according to Marvel:

And there you have it – how to clean an aquarium and take care of your aquatic BFF right from an expert! Just follow these steps and your best friend will be delighted with a spotless home.

Do you want 24/7 access to a veterinarian? With DodoVet, you can connect via video chat, phone, or SMS with an empathetic veterinary expert who can help you be the best pet parent you can be. Say goodbye to Dr. Google and get answers to all your pet parenting questions anytime, anywhere. Learn more here.