Is it better to have a clean or dirty fish tank??

Answer 1

I would Say have the tank looking clean but the water a bit dirt has fish like Bactria to live

Answer 2

Well that depends.

If you mean is it better to have clean water or water with dirt and food floating in it, of course clean is better. It is also better to have no ammonia, nitrites etc. (plants eat that stuff ;) )

If you mean super clean with no algae or bacteria or anything. Then I'd say no, it is better to have it dirty. Sometimes when people do things like scrub rocks and remove gravel to wash it super clean they remove a lot of good bacteria from the water which can make your tank worse.

So it depends what you mean by clean actually.

Mostly clean is better. It looks better. Just don't lose the good bacteria (never do a 100% waterchange ;-) )

A lot of the time, if the water is just a bit dirty (ie a little dirt particles). The fish really don't care. In the case of tannins (from bogwood etc.) the fish may even prefer it...it can trigger some fish to breed.

Answer 3

Clean is the obvious answer.
But remember than when your tank is working correct which can take about 2 weeks (You may note that when you use ALL clean water to start the tank off) It goes very cloudy a couple of times during the first fourtnight (that's normal) It is due to bacteria breeding in the water (These bacteria are the good guys) The bacteria feed on Nitrites found it your fishes waste products (and are harmfull to your fish) and coverts them into Nitrates (which are harmless)
But if for any reason you need to empty the tank completely and start again with all fresh water. Wash your filter element (The sponge) with the fish tank water in a bucket (Not tap water as this contains chlorine and kills the bacteria in the sponge, which you don't want to happen) and leave it in this water till you are ready to put it back in the tank.
Put the new water in with you bacteria soaked sponge and they will breed very quickly and have your tank running properly again quicker.

NOTE:
plants love Nitrates so use the dirty water from you sponge cleaning bucket on your house plants. They will love you for it. and if you use all the other water on your lawn it will eventually reward you with greener grass than your neighbours

Answer 4

Always better to have all the benefical bacterial in that tank.
It breaks down pee and poop from the fish and turns it into nitrates. This is cycling process... Never change but 10-15 precent of the water.. And never use tap water it contains chemicals that your fish just can't live with... Read new tank syndrome. and partial water changes. And yes its always better to be alittle dirty than too clean

Answer 5

Some one here once said "Clean to you and me is not the same as clean to a fish"

When you say clean, clean as in no algae, no debris on the bottom or floating, crystal water?

To a fish, clean means no chemicals and proper water balance. Fish don't care if there is dirt at the bottom of the tank, they don't care if there is algae so thick on the glass you cannot see them. They care that their main source of life, water is "clean".

Algae does not harm fish, unless it is begining to suck them in.

As long as your water quality is where it should be, some debris at the bottom of the tank is not going to harm your fish.

If it really bothers you buy a few small fishie dusters and teach them to clean their own tank. (Just kidding)

Answer 6

It actually depends on the TYPE of fishes you keep.

For instance, coldwater freshwater fishes such as goldfishes. They require a clean, pure medium as they consume foods voraciously; thus resulting in frequent clouding of water. THIS, you need to have a good filter system and a clean tank, or else the fishes will die. Makes sense?

However, for some species of coldwater marine creatures such as the Tubeworm [Serpula Vermicularis], the aquarium SHOULDN'T be well filtered as this may remove some of its microscopic foods.

Therefore, it really, really depends on the type of fishes. But of course, a clean tank is much more preferable or some of your fishes might get sick.

Answer 7

It's better to have a clean fish tank. If you're worrying about the chlorine and chloramine in you tapwater, use a dechlorinizer, usually 1 teaspoon per 10 gallons.

Answer 8

when breeding, dirty water tank is ok cos if u clean frequently you might destroy thier eggs,

but for a fish tank which is in your sitting hall should be clean or else it will be an eye saw

Answer 9

Clean, keep the water right and you will keep any fish

Answer 10

What kind of a question is that? of course it's better to have it clean. Your poor fish, what must they think of you?