Red Sea Reef Salt or Coral Pro: What’s Best for Your Reef Tank?

Sounds easy enough? Do it properly and with the least stress! Here are all the key steps in cleaning a fish aquarium:

Step 1: Don’t stress out tank fish!

When washing the fish tank, you may assume it’s a good idea to remove the fish, but it’s best to leave them alone! Handling or moving your fish can be quite stressful for them, so you might leave them in their fish habitat while you remove dirt. Plus, you won’t replace all the water, so they’ll be safe. Clean around their area and leave them be; they’ll love the subtle atmosphere!

Step 2: Scrub Your Hands Thoroughly!

Before getting into tank cleaning, thoroughly wash your hands and forearms up to the elbow area. Remove any lotion, aroma, or soap residue, which might damage fish. You want to keep these watery fish safe, so keep your hands sanitized and free of harmful chemicals.

Step 3: Clean The Inside Of The Glass

Regular maintenance is a must for glass inside of the aquarium. Light and water combine to create algae, which quickly turns clear glass green. An algae pad is your greatest friend here—scrub away the green with some scraping, and almost all of that algae will be removed.

Be cautious, however! Gravel, sand, or dust between the pad and the glass might result in scars that are not covered by warranties. Skilled algae wipers inspect the pad for dirt and rinse it if necessary. Can’t make it to the bottom? Choose an algae pad with a grip for taller tanks. Ready to keep the tank glass bright?

Step 4: Take Out Decorations And Large Rocks

Those pretty decorations in an aquarium, such as coral, plastic plants, and rocks, require a good cleaning every few weeks. A little bloom of algae might look lovely, but it shouldn’t take over! To refresh the fish tank decorations, remove them and soak them in a tub of warm water. Scrub them well with an algae scraper.

If they are still unclean, avoid using soap since it might hurt your fish. Instead, place them in a mix of 10% bleach and 90% water for 10-15 minutes. That should do the magic cleaning! Don’t put them back just yet; you have more steps to take!

Step 5: Pull Out The Gravel Siphon

Using a gravel vacuum makes it easy to clear the rock, gravel, or sand in the tank. It eliminates any loose particles from the bottom. Bust out 25-50% of gravel regularly, particularly during extensive scrubbing. Do you frequently vacuum your gravel? It’s best to do this while decorations are out since debris tends to accumulate behind them. Keep the aquatic tank fresh and your fish happy!

Step 6: Clean Aquarium Filter

In this step, rinse the filter medium in a bucket of old fishery water. If you use different water, you risk removing the beneficial microorganisms that the tank needs. It’s an important step of how to clean a fish tank filter. Keep those beneficial bacteria alive to provide a healthy habitat for fish! While you’re at it, be sure to clean your aquarium pump as part of ongoing disinfection plan.

Step 7: Add Fresh Water To The Tank

Replace the water that has been removed, but do not simply throw any old water into the tank; this can be deadly. Don’t forget to check the quality and temperature first. The freshwater should have the precise same temperature as the tank water. Most packed spring water or well water is good for fish, but always test it before putting it in the tank. Knowing how to clean a dirty fish tank properly means making sure that the newly added water is safe for fish.

Step 8: Reinstall The Aquarium Decorations

Almost finished cleaning a sand aquarium! If you removed any fish or ornamental elements, now is your chance to reattach them. Gently put fish in their happy tank area, together with dust-free decorations. Try to ensure everything is safe and sturdy so that fish can swim freely. You’re done; the inside fish tank feels gleaming!

Step 9: Cleaning The Outside Glass

Once the whole thing is back in fish tank, you may need to clear away any spills or water stains. Use a glass cleaner designed exclusively for fisheries to avoid mistakenly introducing hazardous chemicals. Spray it into a cloth and wipe down the outer glass to remove water stains, mineral dirt, and fingerprints for good vision.

Own a fish tank made of acrylic? Use a cleaner specifically designed for acrylic, as ordinary glass cleaners can make it look foggy. Don’t forget to wipe up any splashed water around tank or on the floor. Your fish and marine life are going to love their newly spotless home! Cleaning an old aquarium has never been easier, right?