How to Clean a 55 Gallon Fish Tank

An average fish tank will need to be cleaned thoroughly at least once every three months. A 55-gallon fish tank should be cleaned at least once a month because of its size and to avoid allowing a large amount of algae and dirt to build up. The tank will need to be cleaned out even if it appears to be clean, because fish feces and excess food sink beneath or between the gravel.

Things You'll Need

  • Gravel siphon vacuum
  • Ammo-Lock
  • pH buffer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Turn off any machinery you may have running in your tank, such as a bubble machine or filter.

    • 2

      Change the water. Do not remove the fish for this process, because doing so can be stressful for them. For a 55-gallon fish tank, remove at least 25 percent of the water and no more than 50 percent of it. Place the hose of a gravel siphon vacuum into the fish tank, then turn it on. Point the hose toward the gravel, and move it around to remove as much fish feces and dirt sitting on the bottom of the tank as possible along with the water.

    • 3

      Wipe the insides of the tank with a sponge to remove the algae and any rings that might have accumulated from the water line.

    • 4

      Prepare the new water. Fill a bucket or two with tap water, and add chemicals, such as a pH buffer or Ammo-Lock. The pH buffer helps balance the pH level in the water. It is a dissolving powder that will help improve the livelihood of the fish. Ammo-Lock detoxifies the ammonia in the water. This chemical also removes chloramines and chlorine from the tap water.

    • 5

      Check the temperature of the water in the fish tank with an aquarium thermometer, and compare it to the temperature of the water in the bucket. Wait until the new water is the same temperature as the tank water, then empty buckets of new treated water into the tank. Pour the water very slowly to avoid a big splash and to not disturb or cause stress to the fish.