How to Clean a 50-Gallon Fish Tank

A 50-gallon fish tank is generally a very stable habitat for fish and plant life, but it is important to complete routine cleaning and maintenance to ensure a proper balance that will continue to convert nitrite to nitrate. This is called the nitrogen cycle. Routine cleaning will also ensure that unsightly algae will not overtake the tank, thus preventing unnecessary death of fish.

Things You'll Need

  • 5-gallon bucket
  • Detergent-free cotton towel or sponge
  • Gravel cleaner (see Resources)
  • Bleach
  • Access to a sink with warm and cold water
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unplug all electrical equipment that runs the tank. This includes hood lights, in-tank lights, filters, power heads and air pumps. There is no danger to fish by doing this. A 50-gallon tank has hours of oxygen for fish to breathe while the tank is being cleaned. This allows for easier removal of equipment for cleaning and prevents the possibility of shock.

    • 2

      Remove half of the cloth filters from the tank. These are found in hang-on-back filter systems. These filters can be cleaned by running cool water from a sink in the opposite direction than the filtered tank water moves through. This will push dirt out of the filter instead of into it. Only half of the filters should be cleaned at one time to prevent the loss of beneficial bacteria.

    • 3

      Remove all plastic ornaments and plastic plants and soak them in water. A small amount of bleach can be used in the water to break up algae that has become hard. Allow the plants to soak for five to 15 minutes. Once clean, the ornaments and plants should be rinsed with clean water.

    • 4

      Remove 15 gallons of water from the tank via the gravel cleaner. Animal waste and uneaten food will sink to the bottom of the tank. Removing this waste with a gravel cleaner is essential to a healthy environment. Pushing the gravel cleaner deep into the gravel will help with getting as much waste as possible.

    • 5

      Wipe the inside of the tank clean with a detergent-free cotton towel or a chemical-free sponge. Abrasive material or cleaning agents should not be used. The tank's own water should be used to wipe the inside clean of algae.

    • 6

      Place all plants and plastic parts back into the tank and anchor them into place. Once this is done, replace the water that was removed from the tank with room-temperature tap water.

    • 7

      Plug all electrical equipment back in and and complete a systems check to make sure all pumps and filters are primed and functioning properly.