Cleaning my tank walls?

Question

I just got some catfish and have been feeding them sinking pelletts. But the pellets have made a mess and now the walls of my tank are coated with residue. I have cut back to the ammount of pellets im feeding the cat's since they make a mess - but is there a safe way to get rid of the residue on the walls? Or will it just dissapear over time? What about wiping with a cloth or sponge?

Answer 1

You can certainly just wipe it away with a clean cloth or an tank safe sponge. There are also a variety of glass cleaning devices available at most aquarium stores.

MM

Answer 2

If it is algae and it is an ongoing problem, you may want to look into purchasing and algae eater or two. If you are interested here is some information on them!

http://www.fishpondinfo.com/sae.htm

If algae is not the problem and it is just gross residue from food, you may want to feed one or two pellets at a time until they don't eat anymore, and then stop feeding them, thus cutting out the extra food floating around.

If this doesn't help, your local fish or pet store sells special scrubbers for this case and they are pretty reasonable and you can get pretty fancy ones too!! The ones from the grocery store are generally not a good idea because they tend to be treated with chemicals and can be harmful for your fish, expecially if a piece breaks off and they eat it =(

http://www.petco.com/product/6379/Aquatic-Gardens-Medium-Magnetic-Cleaner.aspx
---Here is an example of one of those magnetic ones, this way you won't even have to get your hands dirty!!

Good luck!!!

Answer 3

I use a commercial kitchen cleaning pad - one of the ones that has a yellow sponge on one side and green scrubby on the other. It doesn't scratch the glass and the fish seemed okay after I'd emptied half the tank out and removed some algae on the glass.

I usually buy a special algae removal pad from Pets At Home, but I'd lost it, so the kitchen pad had to do.

Use a fresh one though! You don't want your tank full of suds!

Answer 4

maybe try a different brand, too. Omega One doesn't cloud your water, and every fish i've ever fed that brand to has never left anything behind. but i def. think cutting back on the amount will reduce the stuff on the side of your tank. i use new (and cheap!) toothbushes to clean my tank, stir the gravel around, and clean the filters. or maybe give them a little variety, not just the pellets. try bloodworms, romaine lettuce, or a slice of cucumber just to mix things up - who knows, maybe they're just bored with the same thing every day!

good luck!

oh, i don't know about using most household cleaning products to clean the glass. i heard if you use a VERY low concentration of bleach with water that will clean it, but the thought of putting bleach near my tank where my fish live.... i wouldn't try it. that's just what i heard. they do make a spray it's found at most pet stores... that sell fish... i can't remember the exact name, it's something like safe and easy it's made by aquarium pharmecuticals (sp?) i just use before mentioned toothbrush!

Answer 5

Don't use a sponge from the grocery store they are often treated with harsh chemicals. Use an algae scrubber, paper towel, or a piece of poly ester fiber fill. Don't use a kitchen towel either, if you have washed it in the washing machine it still has soap in it.

Answer 6

i use a 20p toothbrush i got from a chemist, and a mag-float, a magnetic scraper designed to scrape algae off the walls of a tank (a glass tank only mind) without scratching it or getting yourself wet! you often need to put a bit of elbow grease in with the mag-float though, especially with tougher algaes such as spot algae and hair algae.

Answer 7

I use a tooth brush to get the green spots off of my tank walls as i dont think the algae magnets and stuff get it off as good.

Answer 8

Get alittle scrub brush from your pet store and take out the food out after the fish are done eating. leaving it in there makes it get all nasty. I do it for my sucker fish and his sinking pellets.

Answer 9

using a cloth or a sponge will work (dont use any soap or anything lol) and make sure it is lint free. they sell magnets for cleaning the walls of aquariums also.

Answer 10

Well first you need to find another place to put your catfish before you start to clean the cage, and after you've done that. Just get a cloth and wet it and put just a LITTLE amount of dish soap on it and wipe the sides of with that. and than before you put them back in the tank you need to make you've rinsed the tank good. That should take care of it.