How to Clean the Gravel in an Aquarium

Aquariums rely on gravel or sand not only to create an attractive substrate for the tank, but also to provide spaces for beneficial bacteria to proliferate, as well as nooks and crannies where unattractive fish wastes can lie unseen. However, a healthy tank requires clean gravel or else wastes and other harmful chemicals could build up and pollute the water. Cleaning the gravel should be a routine task for any fish enthusiast.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel vacuum
  • Bucket
  • Dechlorinator
  • Duct tape
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Instructions

    • 1

      Place a bucket on the floor at your feet directly below the aquarium.

    • 2

      Place the output of the gravel vacuum inside the bucket. The gravel vacuum is composed of a suction head (the input), which looks like a large mouth attached to a long tube, the end of which serves as the output and where water is expelled after being sucked up. Use the duct tape to secure the output to the inside of the bucket so expelled water doesn't spill on the floor.

    • 3

      Open your aquarium's lid or remove it for easy access to the gravel. You'll need to reach to the bottom, so you may need a stool.

    • 4

      Pump the suction head of the gravel vacuum under the water until a siphon begins and water starts traveling through the tube and down into the bucket.

    • 5

      Press and twist the gravel vacuum into a spot in the gravel. The gravel will be too heavy to get sucked up, but dirt, waste and other debris will be sucked into the tube and expelled into the bucket below.

    • 6

      Repeat Step 5 until you have cleaned almost every spot of gravel or the water level in the aquarium has decreased by about one-fourth.

    • 7

      Dispose of the water in the bucket by flushing it down a drain or toilet and rinse the bucket.

    • 8

      Fill the bucket with water that is about the same temperature of the water in your aquarium and add the proper dosage of dechlorinator, according to package directions. Dechlorinators neutralize chlorine and other harmful chemicals from tap water.

    • 9

      Spill the dechlorinated water into your aquarium.

    • 10

      Repeat steps 8 and 9 until you refill the tank.