DIY Planted Water Change Tank

Live plants can bring an extra dimension of beauty to a freshwater aquarium, as well as a natural habitat for your fish. However, this live addition to the environment needs some extra care, including regular water changes. You should conduct a water change in your planted tank about every week. When doing the water change, you'll need to create water conditions that are beneficial for both the plants and the fish living inside the aquarium.

Things You'll Need

  • 2 buckets
  • Water conditioner
  • Aquarium thermometer
  • Aquarium heater
  • Aquarium-safe trimming scissors
  • Scrubbing brush
  • Siphon
  • Water test kit
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Instructions

    • 1

      Determine how much water you need to remove from the tank for a weekly water change. This must be between 30 and 50 percent of the aquarium̵7;s total volume. For example, if the tank is 10 gallons, you will need to remove 3 to 5 gallons.

    • 2

      Fill a clean bucket with the amount of water you will remove from the aquarium. If you're using tap water, ensure you add a water conditioner, which can be purchased from a pet store, to remove chlorine and make it safe for the fish and plant life. Also, ensure the water temperature in the bucket is the same as the tank by placing an underwater thermometer inside. If the bucket water is hotter than the tank, let it sit out until it cools to the correct temperature. If it̵7;s too cold, insert an aquarium heater in the bucket.

    • 3

      Unplug all electrical units from the aquarium, including lights, heaters, pumps and filters.

    • 4

      Assess the plant life in your aquarium and check for any yellow or brown leaves and foliage. Use a pair of aquarium-safe trimming scissors to snip away these pieces. Remove any algae growing on the aquarium glass with an aquarium scrubbing brush.

    • 5

      Place one end of a siphon in the aquarium, with the end of the tube reaching the gravel at the bottom of the tank. Put the other end in an empty bucket that̵7;s large enough to hold all the water you̵7;ll take from the tank. Create a siphon of water through the tube -- following the manufacturer̵7;s directions ̵1; to begin moving water from the aquarium to the empty bucket.

    • 6

      Move the siphon around the gravel of the tank to grab any fish waste and decaying plant matter that̵7;s sitting on the top of the gravel. Do not push the siphon into the substrate of the aquarium because this will disturb the plants̵7; roots or remove the nutrients held in the gravel that feeds the plants. Remove 30 to 50 percent of the water.

    • 7

      Gently pour the bucket of fresh water into the aquarium.

    • 8

      Plug back in all electrical equipment and ensure it is properly operating.

    • 9

      Measure the nutrient levels in the aquarium using an aquarium water test kit. Replace any nutrients that were removed by the water change or plant consumption -- such as nitrates and phosphates -- according to the manufacturer's recommendations.