How To Clean A Fish Tank Easily
Of course, it is extremely important to keep the fish tank clean. It’s about your little swimmers’ health and well-being. Therefore, if you do not know how to clean a fish tank, take note of the advice we give you in this article.
Cleaning a fish tank
Fish are really sensitive beings, so you must ensure that the tank is always clean. However, it is not just about cleaning it, but about how we clean it. Indeed, if we don’t do it the right way, we can cause serious health problems.
To do this, below, we give you some tips to clean a fish tank.
Tips for a clean fish tank
Don’t use soap
It is better that you forget to use soap, dishwasher or other types of cleaning products that you may have at home. Indeed, these types of products can leave traces of chemical substances that are fatal to the small inhabitants of the fish tank.
Use a scraper
Algae and mosses, usually greenish in color, can accumulate on the walls or objects that you have in the tank. In them, they can concentrate microorganisms and bacteria, so clean you with a scraper at the least once a week. Of course, remember that you should not use soaps or cleaning products.
Cleaner fish
Surely you already know that there are cleaner fish. These are specific species of fish that feed on waste and dirt and, therefore, keep the fish tank clean in a natural and ecological way.
However, you should keep two things in mind in relation to these fish:
- First of all, the presence of cleaner fish in a tank does not mean that you never have to clean it. Although fish of this type help to keep it clean, the truth is that they also produce excrement and waste.
- Also, you need to make sure that the cleaner fish you introduce are compatible with the species you already have.
Clean the filter
If you have a filter in your fish tank, you must give it importance and clean it very well, at least every fifteen days. In addition, normally in specialized centers they will give you instructions and offer you adequate tools and utensils for cleaning.
Remember that you should clean it thoroughly, preferably not at the same time that you clean the rest of the tank.
How to clean a fish tank step by step?
Most people mistakenly believe that the proper way to clean a fish tank is to remove the fish, empty it completely, and then wash it with soap and water. However, this is far from the correct way in which we should clean a fish tank.
Indeed, you have to change the water every two or three days, but without emptying it completely. Thus, you only need to change about three-quarters of the water.
In addition, on the other hand, we insist that the use of soap can always leave traces of detergent that could be toxic and lethal for our little swimmers. It is better to use natural products such as vinegar.
Therefore, for a correct cleaning of the fish tank, follow these steps.
Step by Step
- First, take all the accessories (stones, plants, ornaments) out of the fish tank and clean them with plenty of running water. Also, if necessary, use a scraper. Clean them well until the running water that washes them runs clear.
- Now, you must put the current water from the fish tank in another container with the fish. To do this, use a container that you are sure does not contain traces of soap or detergent. Transfer the water and the fish to that container.
- Next, scrape the walls of the tank with a scraper, making sure to remove any algae or embedded debris.
- Also, clean the fish tank with a little vinegar and a cloth. Clean it well and then remove all traces of vinegar with plenty of running water. Let it dry well.
- Afterwards, transfer your fish to the tank, but only with a part of the water (enough for them to move).
- Later, in another container, add how much new water you will need to finish filling the tank. It is time to treat this water with specific products for fish tanks. These types of products guarantee that the water is ideal for your fish, without chlorine or other harmful chemicals.
- Follow the instructions on the water treatment kit and then, making sure it has reached the same temperature as the water your fish are in, add it to the tank.
In conclusion
As you can see, this is not something difficult. In addition, you should not completely change the water either, causing a shock to the fish. It is enough to change about 3/4 parts and make sure that all the accessories and walls of the fish tank are well clean, without traces of algae.
Also remember: do not use regular soaps or cleaning products, as they could be really dangerous for your little ones. And, above all, keep in mind that a properly cleaned fish tank is a guarantee for the health of your pets.
