How to Clean a 10-Gallon Aquarium

Keeping a 10-gallon aquarium allows you to enjoy having a few pet fish and also creates an interesting focal point and conversation piece in a room. Fortunately, keeping your small fish tank tidy and in good working order is fairly easy and only requires a handful of basic aquarium supplies and a few minutes of your time each month. By keeping the gravel clean, the tank walls free of algae and performing water changes, your fish can receive more oxygen and are apt to be healthier and less susceptible to illness and disease.

Things You'll Need

  • Magnetic algae scraper tool or a sponge on a stick
  • Gravel vacuum for 10-gallon aquariums
  • Plastic gallon-sized pitcher
  • pH water testing kit for aquariums
  • Filter cartridges of filter media
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Instructions

  1. How to Clean a 10-Gallon Aquarium

    • 1

      Remove and discard one gallon of water from your 10-gallon fish tank using a plastic, gallon-sized pitcher. Small water changes like this are important, as removing old water and replacing it with fresh, clean water helps keep the pH levels balanced and even. Fill your gallon-sized pitcher with tap water and set it aside for a few hours so that it reaches room temperature.

    • 2

      Use a a pH test kit to check the pH levels of the water in your gallon-sized pitcher. Most freshwater fish thrive in a pH of 6.5 to 8. If the pH of your tap water does not fall within those parameters, you can use the chemicals in your pH test kit to make the water more base or alkaline. When all levels are acceptable, pour the tap water into the fish tank.

    • 3

      Obtain a fish tank vacuum to clean the gravel at the bottom of the tank. These hand-held manual aquarium vacuums are designed to work as a siphon to remove fish waste and uneaten food. Electrical aquarium vacuums are also available and work quickly and efficiently, though they are substantially more expensive.

    • 4

      Clean algae buildup from fish tank walls by using a magnetic algae scraper. This two-piece device has two powerful magnets on both sides. One piece goes directly into the fish tank where it serves as an algae scraper. The other piece has a small handle or grip to hold on the outside of the tank so that you can maneuver the scraper around the tank walls to clean them. Another option is to use an aquarium algae scrubber, which is simply a textured sponge or scrubbing pad on a plastic or wooden stick.

    • 5

      Change the cartridge or update the filter media as needed. How often this should be done is strictly dependant upon the style and brand of filter that you have. Since there are countless types of aquarium filters, including corner filters, under gravel, power filters, canisters and hang-on filters, it is best to consult the manual that came with the filter for guidance. If you no longer have that, the manufacturer's website or customer service telephone line should be able to help.