Fish Aquarium Maintenance

Regular cleaning of your aquarium is important not only for aesthetic reasons, but more importantly for the health of your fish. Aquarium fish require fresh, clean and well oxygenated water to survive, and can fall prey to a host of illnesses if their water is not changed on a routine basis. A thorough cleaning of the entire aquarium and everything in it needs to take place only once a month, with partial cleaning and water changes occurring every two weeks.

Things You'll Need

  • Fish net
  • Small fishbowl
  • Colander
  • Aquarium scrubbing pad
  • Dechlorination chemical treatments (available at pet supply stores)
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Instructions

  1. Biweekly Maintenance

    • 1

      Scoop your fish up in a net and place them in a smaller, separate fish bowl with clean water that is the same temperature as the aquarium.

    • 2

      Wash the gravel in your aquarium by placing it in a colander and running it under warm water while moving it around with one hand. Place the gravel back in the aquarium.

    • 3

      Replace roughly 20 percent of the water in your aquarium with fresh water, and return the fish to the aquarium.

    Monthly Maintenance

    • 4

      Turn off the electricity to your fish tank in order to begin the more thorough monthly cleaning.

    • 5

      Remove the gravel, filter and any decorative items from the aquarium. Transfer your fish to a smaller fish bowl with clean, temperature-appropriate water and remove approximately 20 percent of the water from the aquarium.

    • 6

      Use a gentle aquarium scrubbing pad to remove any debris or algae that has built up on the inside walls and floor of your aquarium. Move the scrubbing pad in a gentle back-and-forth motion.

    • 7

      Rinse the aquarium filter in some of the discarded tank water. Rinsing the filter under warm tap water can kill the beneficial bacteria required for the aquarium's nitrogen cycle. Place the gravel in a colander and wash it, along with any decorative items, under warm tap water. Place the gravel, filter and decorative items back in the aquarium.

    • 8

      Replace the 20 percent of the water you took out of your aquarium with dechlorinated water that is roughly the same temperature as the water you removed. If you have to use chlorinated tap water to refill the aquarium, treat this water with dechlorinating chemicals before pouring it into the aquarium. Return the fish to the aquarium.