what is the best way to clean out my tropical fish tank?

Question

i was told to not take the fish out of the tank as this might stress them, and that the water i put back in should be the same temperature as the water i take out (which is 25 degrees C) was just wondering what is the best way to clean it out.

Answer 1

I know it must be confusing to hear so many different things.

Simplify.

Taking the fish out stresses them, but they'll survive. The main reason not to take the fish out is because it's a pointless waste of effort. The cleaning can be done with them in the tank, so why bother?

Cleaning the tank is easy, and if you do it regularly and stick to a good routine, you will never need to completely clean the tank top to bottom. A well maintained tank never will need to be torn down for a full overhaul.

1) scrape off the algae using, well, anything that is aquarium safe. You can buy stuff at the fish store, I just use scrub sponges and dive in.

2) Vacuum the gravel and change the water. The easiest way to do this is to buy a syphon and hose. Siphon water into a large bucket while vacuuming a portion of the gravel. Each time you do a water change you can do a different part of the gravel. Do this at least once per week, at most once per month. Obviously more frequent is better, though more then once per week is overkill. Change about 20% to 30% of the water.

3) Clean the power filter of loose waste and rinse off the mechanical media (sponges) in the bucket of aquarium water. This will keep the bacteria from being killed by chlorine.

It's a good idea to get the temperature close to the tanks, but it certainly doesn't have to be perfect - one of the reasons you are changing only part of the water is to keep conditions stable. If you change 25% of the water and introduce 21° water into your 25° tank, the end temperature will be about 24°, an insignificant change.

You should be using dechlorinator for the tap water. This stuff works instantly, and you need not waste any time aging the water.

Don't worry too much. You'll get the hang of it on your own, and discover your own methods and techniques. Good luck.

Answer 2

I have had a tank for the last three years and have never removed my fish at all, It is true removing them can stress them, I do a weekly or fortnightly water change of 10%, I use a gravel Vacuum (syphon) Which is a big tube with a funnel , You put a bucket on the floor, the funnel in the tank and suck the end of the tube once the water has gone up the tube point the tube into the cucket, The water should flow into the bucket, move the syphon over the gravel and this will suck up the waste into the bucket, Clean your filters media in this bucket of dirty water, this preserves the bacteria needed in them, Dechlorinse the water you are going to add before hand and add it slowly to the tank, I normally put a little warm water in, warmer is better if it is a tropical tank, if you add it slowly it will climatise to the other water anyway, Add a dose of Bacteria Suppliment to keep your fishes happy and well, You can add a Waste control product too (Nutrafin Waste control is good, it breaks down the waste on the bottom of the tank naturally which then passes through the filter. this can be added once a week with the cycle. Hope this helps

Answer 3

You should change 20-25% of the water every week using a gravel vacuum. I just leave my fish in their tank. Put the bucket of tank water next to the sink. Run the water from the sink until it feels the same as the tank water. When it feels the same pour the water down the drain. wash the bucket out to make sure all the dirt is gone. Then, fill it back up, add dechlorinator, and put it back in the tank. Don't turn the water off because if you have to add more water you want it to be the same temperature. You should clean the algae off the glass with whatever your local pet store keeps in stock to take care of algae when needed. Also, change your filter cartridge every two weeks, the next week wash out the filter, keep alternating every week. I think that's all. Good Luck!

Answer 4

You fish should NEVER leave your tank. When cleaning your tank only 20% of the water is to be taken out.

This is how to clean your tank:
Keep the filter running:
Using your scraper or sponge, clean the inside sides of the glass.
While this is setteling, in a 5 gallon bucket, used only for your aquarium run your new water. Add your aquarium salt and water Dechlorinater and let it sit. (I have a heater for my buckets however this is not necessary just run the water a little bit warmer DO NOT BOIL it.)
Remove your filters and either change them or clean them. It isn't always necessary to clean the entire filter unit, but that will depend on how often you do water changes.
Remove any decorations and clean.
Using your gravel syphon, go around the bottom gravel sucking up the debris now sitting on the bottom of the tank. This is where your 20% water change comes from. (You will need a different 5 gallon bucket. If you only have one, do this prior to pouring your new water.)

Replace your filter(s). Wipe down the hood. Pour your new water into the tank Since you are only replacing 20% of the water, the temperature should be close but it doesn't have to be exact since adding 20% to the remaining 80% does not change the temperature of the 80% outside the safe limits. Replace your decorations.

Using a soft cloth, wipe the out side of the glass. DO NOT SPRAY chemical cleaners on the glass. If you must, spray the cleaner onto the cloth then wipe the tank.

Removing the fish from the tank places undue stress on the fish leaving them open for various diseases, mostly ich.

The main reason you do not remove all the water is due to the cycling of the tank. Cycling of the tank, as is when your start up the tank every newly set up aquarium goes through a process of establishing beneficial bacterial colonies. Older aquariums also go through periods during which the bacterial colonies fluctuate. Failure to understand this process is the largest contributing factor to the loss of fish. Learning what it is, and how to deal with critical periods during the nitrogen cycle, will greatly increase your chances of successful fish keeping.

Unlike nature, an aquarium is a closed environment. All the wastes excreted from the fish, uneaten food, and decaying plants, stay inside the tank. If nothing eliminated those wastes, your beautiful aquarium would turn into a cesspool in no time at all.

The water may look clear, but don't be fooled, it's loaded with toxins. Sounds awful, doesn't it? Fortunately bacteria that are capable of converting wastes to safer by-products, begin growing in the tank as soon as fish are added. Unfortunately there aren't enough bacteria to eliminate all the toxins immediately, so for a period of several weeks to a month or more, your fish are at risk.

However, you need not lose them. Armed with an understanding of how the nitrogen cycle works and knowing the proper steps to take, you can sail through the break-in cycle with very few problems.

Initial stage: The cycle begins when fish are introduced to the aquarium. Their feces, urine, as well as any uneaten food, are quickly broken down into either ionized or unionized ammonia. The ionized form, Ammonium (NH4), is present if the pH is below 7, and is not toxic to fish. The unionized form, Ammonia (NH3), is is present if the pH is 7 or above, and is highly toxic to fish. Any amount of unionized Ammonia (NH3) is dangerous, however once the levels reach 2 ppm, the fish are in grave danger. Ammonia usually begins rising by the third day after introducing fish.

Second stage: During this stage Nitrosomonas bacteria oxidize the ammonia, thus eliminating it. However, the by-product of ammonia oxidation is nitrite, which is also highly toxic to fish. Nitrites levels as low as low as 1 mg/l can be lethal to some fish. Nitrite usually begins rising by the end of the first week after introducing fish.

Third stage: In the last stage of the cycle, Nitrobacter bacteria convert the nitrites into nitrates. Nitrates are not highly toxic to fish in low to moderate levels. Routine partial water changes will keep the nitrate levels within the safe range. Established tanks should be tested for nitrates every few months to ensure that levels are not becoming extremely high.

Test your water regularly, or take a sample to the pet store and have them test it.

Taking all the water out of your aquarium does not leave allow this beneficial bacteria to continue in your tank.

Hope this helps

Answer 5

You can move your fish, this will be fine!
Keeping them in the tank while you are trying to clean it is more stressfull.
*Put all the water and fish into another tank (or bucket depending on how big they are)
*Do not use chemicals to clean the tank.
*If you have an undergravel filter, do not clean the gravel, as this is where the bacteria are living (no bacteria= dead fish!) Put the gravel in a seperate bucket or in with the fish.
*With a clean sponge/ algae pad, clean the insides of the tank with just water.
*Do not clean filters yet!!
*Put everything back

Finished!!!

By using the same water, the temperature would not have changed that much, also if you clean everything in the tank at the same time, you lose a lot of the bacteria.

Leave the tank for a week, then you can do a small waterchange and clean the filters, DO NOT clean sponges/filter media under the tap, chlorine kills bacteria!

Lolli x

Answer 6

You can take them out and put them in a suitable container of water until you finish cleaning the tank. Fish become adapted to being handled during cleaning changes. My fish always sink to the bottom of the tank when I turn the pump and air off. They know that it is change time when it goes all quiet in there.
When I am done with the cleaning and net them back they are back to normal in 15 minutes and bothering me (lol) for a feeding.
Yes keep the water the same temperature when you are transfering and filling the tank. I will add some warm water until it is ideal to what they are accustomed too.
Use Fish Safe or other to deal with the chlorine of the water and you should only need to clean out the tank every now and then. Buying a gravel syphon regularly keeps the gravel clean and clearing out the filter weekly. Change half the water once a week also. The fish learn your handling ways and get much less stressed if you do it frequently.

Answer 7

Never completely clean your fish tank. It could possibly kill your fish and upset the balance of bacteria in the filter.
I would suggest using a gravel hoover to clean the gravel, only change a maximum of 50% of the water. would recommend 25% though. For water temp and tap water safe I would not use tap water safe or any conditioners, products that are not needed but make companys lots of money, If a mag or book recomends it then you know who's paying them, just leave a bucket of water out for 24hrs chlorine in tap water will evaporate in that time, Just mix a little hot kettle water to match the temp and chuck it in the tank. Avoid handling any fish and don't put them in a bowl of fresher water. Handling will overstress them and remove the slimy protective coating on their skin.
If you were to change all the water you could kill them if the PH is not balanced to the same as the original water. This is the biggest killer especially when you get a new fish from the pet shop and put it in your tank.

Answer 8

check the water for nitrate. and ammonia etc.. If the ammonia level is high remove 25% of the water and if it is fine only remove 10% of the water this should be sufficient and if performed on a weekly basis this routine and the filter will keep the tank looking clean. But do make sure that the water you are pouring back in is the same temperature as the fish tank and pour it in really slowly as if done to quick can kill the fish.

Answer 9

Take a third of the water out every 2 weeks.Every 6 a complete water change,and clean the tank.Gravel etc.If you have a shower
and are able to carry it in,do.After you have put the fish in a sink bowl or bucket in water taken from tank first.Cover in case any jump out.While cleaning tank continue to boil enough water in kettle for
tank.Pour it in a bucket,add cold and pour it in tank.If it feels warm
to touch or your tank thermostat is not lit its OK.But as long as it is not cold it will go to the temperature your Thermos is at (26)Put plants or whatever back in tank before fish add Safe Guard+Safe
Water.Remember if you clean your filter to always use water from the tank and add Safe Guard when replacing water.Safe Water oxidises the ammonia created by waste into nitrate.

Answer 10

i've got some special magnets - you put one on the outside and one on the inside of the tank and when you drag them along, they clean all the gunk and algae off the tank.

You can buy these from most pet shops, other than that some fish like (bottom feeders) cat fish etc, clean the algae off things in the tank - perhaps invest in a few of them. Although i'm not sure if they are suitable for Tropical fish tanks!!

Hope this helps...

:D