It is essential to check the state of the water in the aquarium habitually, but this doesn̵7;t mean every day. You may do this once a week as long as you observe some changes in the water. To maintain the cleanliness of the water, clean your aquarium regularly.
Things You'll Need
- Hose/Siphon
- Small bucket
- Vinegar
- Sponge
- Algae pad
- Bleach solution
- pH test kit
- Water conditioner
Instructions
Examine the water color and smell it to confirm if it there̵7;s a need for you to renew it. If the water smells bad, more fishy than it does normally or looks cloudy and heavy, then the water is not healthy for your fish to live in anymore.
Examine your filters. Filters have a very important function in an aquarium. They must be replaced at least once every 4 weeks, because particles that were trapped in the filter will decompose. Some filters have refills and provide instructions on how long they can be used.
Use a small bucket to remove the water from the aquarium. Do this carefully in order not to hurt your fish or break the decorations. For an even safer way, you may use a hose or siphon to remove the water. Determine how much water you should replace. You don̵7;t need to change all the water inside your aquarium; how much you change depends on the state of the water.
Clean the bottom of your aquarium. You can vacuum the gravels inside using a siphon while replacing the water to take away the fragments. If the water in your aquarium looks gloomy a few days after you renewed it, this is an indication that you are overfeeding your fish.
Clean the walls of the aquarium with a sponge or an algae pad. Clean the light, tank top, outside glass and the hood as well. Commonly used glass cleaners contain ammonia, which is harmful to fish. Use vinegar instead, or cleaners that are safe for the fish, and always rinse carefully. Clean walls will make the aquarium brighter.
Clean the plants or other decorations inside the aquarium, especially those with dirt or algae. Remove them from the tank and use an algae scraper to do this. For dirt that is difficult to remove, make a 10 percent bleach solution. Soak the items in the solution for about 15 minutes, then rinse carefully under running water. Let them air dry to eradicate any residual bleach.
Use drinking water to refill your aquarium that has the least amount of chlorine. Add water conditioner (dechlorinator) to make it suitable for the fish and plants. Test its pH level to make sure that it is close to if not the same as the water in your aquarium.