how do i clean my 55 gallon fish tank?

Question

i know i have to change 25 percent of my water but wen do i treat that water before i put it in the tank or after its in there. and how long do i have to wait to put my fish in it.

Answer 1

Quite simply:

Leave the fish in. It's much less stressful for them, and for you considering all the extra work you can avoid.

Use a syphon, which is just a hose with a gravel vacuum on the end. Syphon the water into the bucket while vacuuming the gravel at the same time (if you do this once per week it will keep things nice and clean).

Empty the bucket, fill it back up with water similar in temperature to the tank. Treat it with water conditioner and then pour it into the tank. There is no need to age the water overnight - the active chemical in these water conditioners works instantly - ageing water is a hangover from the old days.

With larger tanks, a python hose can save you bucket hauling. It works the same as a syphon, but you fill and empty the tank directly from the faucet. For this method, you add the water conditioner right before refilling the tank - it will remain active until it actually comes into contact with the chlorine and metals in the water, and then neutralize it immediately. This is exactly how I've done it with all my large tanks for many years.

Other then regular water conditioner, you need not add anything else to the water, regardless of what the fish store might try to sell you. All fish need besides proper stocking and tank setup for a long and healthy life is clean water and a clean tank.

Answer 2

Ok, first of all, DON'T take all your fish out! This will stress your fish way too much. Secondly, DON'T remove all the water! You should be doing at least monthly water changes of about 10-20%, which is about 5-10 gallons with a tank your size. If you haven't been doing that, you'll probably want to change at least 25-30% of the water now. You use a gravel vacuum. You can buy one from any pet store with a fish section. As mentioned by some others, it's basically a big piece of large air hose with a wide piece of hard plastic tubing at one end. There are fancier types, like "Pythons" and you can get battery operated gravel vacuums and stuff, but in a pinch you can even just use a turkey baster or a piece of spare airline tubing. You fill it up with water and get the small end draining into a bucket so you have a siphon going. Then you guide the wide end around over the surface of your gravel to suck up all the gunk from the bottom of your fish tank. If you have shrimp or bottom dwelling fish that might get in your way, just push them aside. Sometimes the fish are curious and come to see what you're doing - be careful not to suck them up! Depending on how dirty your tank is, you can move decorations and clean under them, or leave them be and just clean around them. You can poke the vac down into the gravel a bit to stir things up, but don't clean more than the top 1/4 inch. The finer gunk at the very bottom (called mulm) is actually good for any live plants you have in your tank and is breaking down and feeding your beneficial bacteria. Keep vacuuming up gunk until you have removed as much water as you want/need to. Then replace the water with fresh, conditioned water of about the same temperature as your tank water. Don't be surprised or upset if your water looks a little hazy or cloudy or there's some debris swirling around inside your tank right after a water change. You always stir some stuff up and you can't get 100% of the gunk when you vacuum. It'll all settle down and get filtered out in a little while and your water will clear shortly. Do all of the above and TA-DA! You've just completed a full water change on your aquarium! You need to do this about once a month or more often if you have problems with ammonia, nitrite or nitrate levels in your water.

Answer 3

Hello! I have two 55 gallon freshwater tanks and changing the water is a lot of work, I know! The easiest way I have found is to use a 5 gallon bucket and Stresscoat each time until it is full. I check the water temp to make sure it is close(+/-5 degrees) and mix the stesscoat in the water before putting it in the tank. Works very well, only new water needs treated, the fish have protective buildup in the rest. Oh, and are you making sure to provide adequit gravel filtration, or cleaning it by suction? How about the glass and ornaments? Also, changing the water does no good if you dont clean the filterbox and change the filters, too.

Answer 4

When you clean the tank, you don't take the fish out. The only time you would ever take the fish out is if there was a complete disaster. Treat the water before adding back into the fish tank. To remove 25% of the water, use a siphon to vacuum the gravel, this will obviously remove water too and keep your gravel clean.

Nosoop4u

Answer 5

I use a siphon(gravel cleaner) hose to vacuum-the gravel to remove the left over food and poo from the fish that collects in the gravel. i do a 50% water change myself, the gravel cleaner will remove the water also (just watch it because my hose slipped out of the bucket i had water all over the floor-plus 1 of my tiger barb babies which got sucked up while i was trying to get the hose back in the bucket) but its a lot easier than having to take all the fish out of your tank. lol I clean the filter box usually if my filter but sometimes i will wash it an use it again. my 2 placos (algae eaters) clean the ornamets I treat the water that i replace with a water treatment and water conditioner i mix it in the bucket before putting it in the tank with the fish.

Answer 6

Fill a 5 gal bucket up with new water and treat it then pour it into the tank , (carefully) and you just leave the fish in the tank. Dont take them out

Answer 7

you dont have to take the fish out...

if you have a phyton water changeing system, you wont need t take the fish out.

every week i do a 50-75 % water change and the fishes are in the tank. Tap water is added and stress coat.

Answer 8

treat it before hand, I use 2g buckets, walmart has them they are $2 and have quart marks on the side, it helps. and if your tank is cycled you leave the fish in, if not when your ammonia and nitrite on your test kit are at 0 its safe to add a fish

Answer 9

First, go get yourself 3 clean, unused, 5-gallon buckets. These can be be bought for a couple-few dollars each at any home improvement or farm store, or most supercenters. Do not reuse or repurpose buckets from any other source. Used buckets will kill your fish, due to chemical residues.
Then go to your local fish store and buy a good-quality gravel filter. If you go to a neighborhood store, as opposed to a pet superstore, the people there can help you pick out a good one for your tank.
When you get home, take a permanent marker and clearly write "Dirty" on one of your buckets. Writing "Clean" or "Fish only" on the other two will keep them from getting used for any other purpose. Inform anyone who shares your home not to use these buckets for any purpose, they are for aquarium use only.
The night before you plan to clean your tank, take your two clean buckets and fill them with clean, fresh, tap water. Add the proper amount of a water conditioner to each bucket. Start Right is a good one, and would require ½ teaspoon per bucket. Get a new set of measuring spoons, please, and keep them with your aquarium gear. You have to measure lots of stuff for aquariums, and this will eliminate worrying about contamination from dish soap or other residues. Just rinse well after each use and wipe dry with a clean paper towel.
To routinely clean your tank, just use the gravel vacuum according to directions, and have it empty into your "Dirty" bucket. When the bucket has been filled twice, you're ready to clean your vacuum and add the fresh water. Dump the dirty water down the stool, or use it to water plants. They love it! You don't have to remove your fish to clean the tank, just take care not to suck them up in the vacuum. Now, gently pour your fresh water into your tank, a pitcher may help with this. Again, buy a new one just for aquarium use. Inexpensive plastic will work fine. All your aquarium supplies should be rinsed very well before their first use, but don't wash with soap.
If you're setting up a new tank, it will make cleaning easier if you have your gravel higher in back and on the sides, and slope down toward the front and center. Place a feeding ring or two above this area, then you can concentrate most of your vacuuming there, as uneaten food will collect below the feeding ring or rings. Makes it easier than trying to vacuum among your plants and decorations.
If you have a new tank, set it up, start all your equipment running, and let it set for two weeks. This is called cycling and is necessary for your fish to survive. Patience is a fish-keeper's most important quality!
After two weeks, bring home your first school of fish. Many fish need to be kept in schools (groups of 3-6, or more) to be happy. You should get a comprehensive guide to find out if the fish you want to keep prefer to school or not. Some can't be kept with their own kind, such as Bettas. They will fight to the death. An aquarium, especially a large one, looks more attractive with some schools swimming around together.
After you bring home this first school, introduce them into their new environment, and let them live there for two weeks without further additions. You have to build your aquarium's population gradually, or a sudden spike in nitrate and ammonia will kill the fish.
If you set up a quarantine tank (a sparsely decorated 5-10 gallon tank) when you set up your main tank, you can house your second school, or next additions there for the two-week waiting period. Every time you buy new fish, keep them in quarantine for two weeks. This is in case you brought home a sick fish, you have a good chance of finding out before you infect your whole tank.
While you are building your new community of fish, test your water quality daily (Dip strips are convenient and easy to use). You have to keep a close eye on nitrates, ammonia, Ph, and so on. If your levels get out of balance you have to take swift action, or your whole population of fish could die. Fortunately, there are products at the fish store to correct just about every possible imbalance there is. You just have to be aware it's happening.
If you haven't done so, buy a good book on aquarium keeping. You can get them at any book store, or pet store, or borrow them from your library. Read it cover to cover before you set up your tank or bring home your first fish. It will answer most, if not all, your questions, and may prevent you from making costly mistakes.
Sorry my answer is so long, but your question was more complex than it appears, and I wanted you to have the necessary information. I am also guesing you're new to the hobby, or you wouldn't have had to ask this.
It's a fantastic hobby, but you need to do some preliminary self-education first. You owe it to yourself and to your fish. You are assuming responsibility for the health and welfare of some of God's creatures. Make sure you're prepared to do your best! Good luck!

Answer 10

You should get one of those magnet cleaners. You place on side on the inside of the tank and one on the outside and pull it accross the tank. That way there is no need to take out your fish.