I have a 20 gallon tank?

Question

I have a 20 gallon tank and a 5 gallon tank. I always end up putting my fish in the 20 gallon tank and then the water gets to dirty, and I have to change all of the fish into the 5 gallon. I need some tips in how to keep my 20 gallon tank clean all the time. I already have a filter, bubbles, heater, and the fish. I need a web page with information about how to keep a 20 gallon tank clean.

Answer 1

First of all, how many fish do you have in the 20 gallon and what type are they? For slim bodied fish, you can use the 1 inch per gallon, but for others you need more. If you have goldfish, 20 gallons is minimum for a single fish. You are probably overfeeding. You should do a 20-30% water change weekly and change your filter cartridge monthly. Don't feed more than twice a day, and don't give more than they will eat in 2 minutes. If algae is your problem check the location of your tank...if it gets direct sunlight, move it. You can also get a couple of ottos or a snail. Do not get a siamese algae eater, chinese algae eater, or a pleco, they will all get too big for your tank.

Answer 2

How long have you had this tank set up and how do you clean it?

If the tank is new (less than 2 months old), or you're taking out all the gravel, water, etc. when you clean the tank, you're never going to keep the tank clean. A clean tank relies on bacteria to break down excess food and waste (fish poop). This takes about 30-45 days to build a good population. If you haven't had the tank that long, or clean it too well, you'll never get the amount of bacteria you need.

How many fish are you keeping in the tank and how large are they? A very general rule of thumb is 1" of fish for every gallon of water. Less if you have fish that produce a lot of wastes (goldfish, oscars, etc.). How much and how often do you feed? If the fish don't eat everything within 2 minutes and you are feeding them more than 1-2 times a day, you need to cut back.

Here's a webpage that can help:

http://www.fishlore.com/

Answer 3

I don't know of any webpages but I can pass along my ideas.
About once a week, I clean the filter and using a baster(the kind you use for turkeys) and suck up the dirty water around the gravel until i have removed about 1/4 of the water in the tank. I then fill it back up with fresh water.
Since that much water should be changed weekly anyways to keep it healthy this way works good for me. I've also tried using a hose but found it hard to keep control of both ends at the same time. Moving one around the gravel and holding the other low enough to drain into a bucket.
You should never change more than half the water at a time if you can help it.
Hope this helps you

Answer 4

I looked around and this was the only page I found that was a great run through of normal, weekly maintenance.

http://www.animalcomp.com/archives/fish/CleanFishTank.html

The secret is to keep the tank clean by cleaning it before it gets out of hand. If you wait until it looks dirty, it's bad for your fish. You should have test kits for ammonia and nitrItes on hand for a new tank, or ammonia and nitrAtes for a cycled tank. Anytime the ammonia or nitrites read even a little bit over zero, you need to do a partial water change. Anytime the nitrates read over 25mg/l or 40ppm, you need to do a partial water change. Those toxins are affecting your fish long before you can see them in terms of cloudy water or sick-looking fish. The test kits are pricey, but they last forever.

My 35 gallon tank usually needs a water change every couple of weeks and my 5 gallon every week. I vacuum the gravel and scoot the decorations around every other water change. Once a month, I change the carbon and rinse the filter sponges (in tank water, not tap water, since chlorine kills your beneficial bacteria.) If your tank is uncycled or overstocked, you'll need to test your levels and probably do maintenance more frequently than that.

Answer 5

you should do gravel vacuums and water changes of about 20-25% of the water weekly. you should stop taking everything out and cleaning the gravel -- it kills the beneficial bacteria that are trying to grow that would help keep your water clean. next time you set your tank up add 3 things --

your dechlorinator
a beneficial bacteria suppliment like stress zyne or cycle
melafix -- its hard to explain but its like antibacterial soap for your fish.

weekly do a gravel vacuum and change about 20-25% of your water. with the water additives added in. this is a good time to wipe down the insides of your tank and to take out your decorations and wash them off. real and artifical plants get washed off too.

if you have goldfish go for 33%.

you might need a better filtration system. i highly recommend the ones with the bio-wheel. get one a little too big for the tank and you will be better off.

Answer 6

http://www.ratemyfishtank.com/article1.php

is some stuff on it

also to help with keeping the glass clean there are these little magnitic glass clearner thing

http://www.nextag.com/Mag-Float-Floating-Magnet-526593320/prices-html

thats what i use

make sure you have clean filters when your old one gets dirty to help keep the water clean

Answer 7

It depends on what kind of fish you have.

Answer 8

i own an aquarium company called phoenix phish care. i could help you out if u email me. i can give u my number or you can give me yours and i will help you out. i have to ask you some questions to figure out how to best keep your system running clean. email me at [e-mail] or [e-mail]

Answer 9

get a good filter and a couple algae eaters.