How to Clean a 20-Gallon Fish Tank

Cleaning your fish tank frequently will not only reduce unsightly algae buildup, but it will also ensure a long, healthy life for your fish. Cleaning your 20-gallon fish tank doesn't have to be time-consuming. In fact, the more often you clean the tank, the quicker the cleaning process becomes. If you want to clean your fish tank in the safest, most natural way, follow a few basic steps.

Things You'll Need

  • Rags or paper towels
  • Algae pad
  • Siphon hose
  • 2 5-gallon buckets
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Instructions

    • 1

      Unplug everything connected to the tank. Remove the hood and clean the algae off of it by wiping it with a rag, paper towel or an algae pad. You can find algae pads at most aquarium or pet stores. You may want to clean the hood in a sink, bathtub or outdoors.

    • 2

      Insert your siphon hose into the tank and remove approximately 4 to 5 gallons of water. Siphon the water into a 5-gallon bucket. Removing some of the water will allow you to reach your arm into the tank without overflowing it while you're scrubbing.

    • 3

      Scrub all the glass sides of the tank with a clean rag or algae pad.

    • 4

      Remove all decorations and artificial plants, and place them in a different 5-gallon bucket. In a sink or bathtub, use your algae pad or a clean rag to rub the algae off the plants and decorations.

    • 5

      Clean your filter next, emptying the water out of it and removing the water intake pipe, housing and impeller. Rinse each unit. Remove the old cartridge from the filter, and then rinse the filter several times. Insert a new cartridge.

    • 6

      Change the water. Siphon out 25 to 30 percent of the water in the fish tank. Don't remove all of the water; this would change the environment too much for the fish. Drag the tip of the siphon into the gravel on the bottom of the tank.

    • 7

      Add room-temperature water to the tank. Replace the decorations and artificial plants.