Freshwater Aquarium Maintenance

 

Tools needed

v     Bucket- purchase a new one (or two )and use it only for the aquarium.

v     Gravel Cleaning Siphon Hose

v     Water Conditioner (Stress Coat, Novaqua or Complete Care)

v     Aquarium Algae Scrub Pad

v     Regular Bleach ( unscented)

v     Old Towel for the floor and a few for cleanup.

v     Filter Materials, Cartridges, Etc.

 

1.) Remove cover and light. If your light disconnects from the hood (most do) put it across the tank as the extra light could help while cleaning the tank

 

2.) If your plastic aquarium decorations are clean just move them to one side so you can clean the gravel as in step 3. If your decorations have lots of algae and you would like to clean them here is one method.

TIP: Place decorations in a bucket, we are going to use bleach so take it somewhere safe. Add ½ cup  bleach to 5 gallons of water. Let them soak until clean (usually 1 hour is sufficient). Neutralizing the bleach...Then drain the bucket and rinse all the items with tap water very well. Then refill the bucket with tap water and add the water conditioner. Add enough for 10 gallons. The water conditioner will neutralize the remaining chlorine. Swish the items to make sure the water conditioner is thoroughly mixed. After about 15 minutes pour the water out and rinse all items with fresh water. Smell the items if they still smell like chlorine then  redo the Neutralizing the bleach process. Bleach is very effective but will kill fish if not thoroughly rinsed and neutralized.

I have used this method personally hundreds of times and it really works. Most items will look like new. Many items can be cleaned like this 10-15 times before the color fades. If unsure test a sample item.

 

 Real driftwood cannot be bleached.  It can be scrubbed with a brush or your aquarium algae cleaner. Never use any soap or chemicals anywhere around the aquarium.

 

3.) If necessary clean the algae from the inside glass with an aquarium algae scrub pad.

 

4.) Change 25% of the aquarium water. Using a gravel cleaning siphon hose remove the water as you clean the gravel. Replace water removed with tap water that is the same temperature and has a water conditioner. Water conditioners remove harmful chemicals and make most tap water safe. Adding water that has evaporated does not constitute a water change. Water that evaporates leaves behind dissolved minerals that will build up and could be harmful.

TIP: Purchase a bucket that is just for aquarium use. Buckets you have used around the house might have toxic chemicals imbedded in the plastic.

 

5.) Replace the decorations. Its OK to redecorate at this point if you wish.

 

6). If its time to change your filter, the materials should be should be changed about 1 week after this tank cleaning.

            Why? What keeps your aquarium clean are natural bacteria that grow on all the surfaces under water. You need these bacteria to keep the tank healthy. The cleaning process removes some of the bacteria. By changing the filter a week later you will be saving some of the bacteria in the filter so that the tank can slowly adjust to the cleaning.

 

7.) Clean aquarium cover with water and your algae scrub pad and place on tank.

 

8.) Clean the outside glass with just water and towel dry. If you must use a glass cleaner always spray on a towel away from the tank. Overspray can be toxic to the fish.

 

The water might be a little cloudy for the next 24 hours but should clear up. If you are adding new fish we suggest you wait for 10 days to 2 weeks after the cleaning, again to allow the bacteria time to adjust, or adding small amounts of new fish.