How to Clean a 10-Gallon Fish Tank

Fish, just like any other pet, require care and a clean living environment. Keeping a 10-gallon fish tank clean takes time and effort to maintain water that's healthy for the fish. Ten-gallon fish tanks require weekly and bimonthly cleaning, depending on the amount of fish in the aquarium. Maintaining a healthy living environment and beneficial levels of bacteria will ensure colorful, active, healthy and long-living fish.

Things You'll Need

  • Quarantine tank
  • Tank divider
  • Glass cleaner
  • Paper towels
  • Filter media (charcoal and sponge)
  • Scrub brush
  • Magnet cleaner
  • Bucket
  • Siphon tube
  • Stress coat
  • Dechlorinator
  • Thermometer
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Instructions

    • 1

      Remove any fish in the aquarium and place them into a quarantine tank. If a quarantine tank isn't available, leave the fish in the aquarium. Take extra care when cleaning an aquarium with fish in it.

    • 2

      Unplug and remove all of the electrical items in the aquarium, such as the heater, filter, powerhead (submersible water pumps), light and air stone (diffuses oxygen into the tank).

    • 3

      Remove the aquarium's hood. Clean it well using ordinary glass cleaner and paper towels. Wipe down the light fixture and light bulbs once they have cooled. This should be done on a weekly basis.

    • 4

      Replace the filter's materials such as the charcoal and sponge every two weeks. Clean the inside of the filter box with running water to eliminate any fish waste and slime coat.

    • 5

      Scrub the sides of the tank using either an aquarium brush, scraper or magnet cleaner once per week.

    • 6

      Remove any dead plant material from live plants in the aquarium on a weekly basis. Trim any plant growth that needs to be removed as needed.

    • 7

      Perform weekly water changes. Don't change more than 15 percent to 20 percent of the water.

    • 8

      Clean the gravel using the siphon tube at least twice per month. Simply place the large end of the tube in the water and begin moving it up and down to start siphoning. The water should begin to flow out the smaller tube. Place the small tube in a bucket to catch the water waste. Clean only 50 percent to 75 percent of the gravel. Overcleaning the gravel will lead to loss of essential bacteria needed in the aquarium, according to peteducation.com. Placing a tank divider between the area being cleaned and the fish will keep them from accidentally getting sucked up in the siphon.

    • 9

      Replace lost water during cleaning and water changes by mixing water dechlorinator and stress coat in a bucket of water. These are used to balance the water by providing a protective coating for the fish so they avoid stress and treat chlorinated tap water. There are many different manufacturers of these chemicals and can be found at the local pet store in the aquatics aisle. Follow the manufacturer's directions on the bottle for proper dosing. The water must be within a few degrees of the existing water in the aquarium. Adding too hot or too cold of water can shock the fish and possibly kill them, the Nippyfish.net website states.

    • 10

      Place the filter, powerhead, air stone and heater back in the aquarium. Put the aquarium hood and light fixture back on the aquarium.

    • 11

      Plug in the filter and add water to the back of its box. Add water until the filter begins to fill up and flow on its own. Plug in all the remaining electrical items.

    • 12

      Check the temperature of the quarantine tank and the cleaned aquarium using a thermometer. If the temperatures of the two tanks are within a few degrees of each other, the fish can go back to the original aquarium.

    • 13

      Clean the front and sides of the aquarium. Spray and wipe the glass clean using ordinary glass cleaner and paper towels.